Art, Coffee and Community
Inside Fowey’s Most Unique Creative Space
Rachel Roberts, 4 December 2025. Photography by Katy Mitchell
In the heart of Fowey, an old bank has quietly become one of the town’s most vibrant cultural spaces. Step inside today and you enter the carefully curated world of Gemma Willdig – a former corporate professional who walked away from office life to build a home for art, coffee and conversation.
Gemma describes her move as an escape as much as a career shift: “If I don't do this now, I never will!” The building itself was part of the pull. Old banks, she points out, are often unique spaces. Here, high ceilings and generous proportions lend themselves perfectly to hanging bold contemporary work, while the location – right in the centre of town – brings a natural vibe.
Inside, the space unfolds in layers. Downstairs is warm and vibrant: a coffee bar, gallery shop and social hub where people can drop in for a drink, browse carefully chosen gifts and catch sight of something unexpected on the walls. Climb the stairs, and the mood shifts. The upper gallery is calm and still, a gentle pause above the street where the art takes quiet precedence and time seems to slow.
“If I don't do this now, I never will!”
What Gemma wants, though, is not reverence so much as reaction. She talks about aiming for “shock and awe” in the best sense: work that inspires, challenges, unites and starts conversations. “One of my favourite things to see is people talking about it – whether they like it or not,” she explains. For her, the point of art is not whether it fits a particular space or style but whether someone feels something when they stand in front of it. If that leads to a debate between friends over coffee downstairs, so much the better.
Much of the work on display is by contemporary artists with ties to the region. While some pieces lean into Cornwall’s familiar coastal and landscape imagery; much of the artwork is more abstract in nature. There is a strong contemporary feel, but also a sense of place that keeps the gallery rooted in its surroundings rather than floating free of them.
Beyond its role as a gallery/coffee shop/wine bar hybrid, The Old Bank has become a busy events venue. The upstairs room hosts exhibitions, talks, creative workshops like life drawing, jewellery-making and a weekly yoga class that has quietly grown into a local fixture. Downstairs, the bar and coffee area lend themselves to private gatherings, networking and informal cultural events. Even the original vault has been pressed into service, providing a small, atmospheric chamber for installations and experimental shows.
Online and offline, the project is evolving. A developing website lists events and, will increasingly, allow visitors to revisit and buy pieces they first saw in person – particularly useful for those who discover the space on holiday and find themselves still thinking about a painting weeks later. Gemma’s social media presence, meanwhile, draws on her earlier experience in commercial photography: abstract details, moments of light, and glimpses of life beyond the gallery sit alongside more straightforward announcements about exhibitions and workshops, giving a sense of the creativity behind the space.
For all the art and activity, what visitors tend to remember most is the atmosphere. The small team is deliberately approachable and well-versed in the stories behind the work, on hand to guide nervous first-time buyers or simply to leave people in peace.
As for what comes next, Gemma is already programming exhibitions into next year and seeking out artists whose work fits the space’s blend of edge and warmth. On the harder days, she says, it is the unexpected conversations – the chance encounters with visitors who wander in, look up and start talking – that keep her going. If there is one thing she would like people to carry away when they leave, it's the memory of the artwork itself: distinctive, sometimes challenging, but always capable of sparking a connection that lingers longer than the coffee..
The next time you're in Fowey, I highly recommend exploring The Old Bank Gallery - a place where art, creativity and community blend into something special. Whether you’re drawn by the exhibitions, the workshops, or simply the joy of a perfectly brewed coffee (or a glass of wine) in such an inspiring setting. For event details and to discover more, visit oldbankgallery.com. I look forward to hearing what you think and seeing how this vibrant space continues to grow within the heart of Fowey.
If you're interested in featuring in one of my Inside Business articles, get in touch!
Please complete the form below and click the Send button.