London days out for families with the Affordable Art Spring Fair

It’s not too late to plan a fantastic London day out at the Affordable Art Fair Battersea Spring, happening this weekend at Evolution London in Battersea Park — with the final day on Sunday.

Part collector’s paradise, part cool space for creative kids, roaming the stands offers a brilliant snapshot of the contemporary art scene. The fair brings together more than 100 galleries and around 1,000 artists, with prices starting from roughly £100, making it one of the most approachable ways to explore (and even buy) original art in London.

Expect everything from dreamy abstract ballerina paintings through to a collection of oversized painted pencils, via ultra-realistic American landscapes, captivating portraits and goldfish sculptures encased in resin. The atmosphere is deliberately relaxed and unintimidating, so you can browse, ask questions and discover new artists without feeling like you need a degree in art history.

Fun artworks to look out for

Hyper-real pencil drawings by Chris Wood
At first glance these framed artworks look like simple photographs of coloured pencils. Step closer and you’ll realise they’re incredibly detailed graphite drawings, capturing every scratch, dent and reflection in the lacquer. It’s a brilliant example of contemporary photorealism and great for stoking kids’ wonder.

Dreamy ballerina and floral paintings by Anna Hymas
Known for expressive still life and vibrant figurative pieces, Hymas’s colourful work is among the most eye-catching across the fair.

Cinematic landscapes by Nadia Attura
Attura’s distinctive photographs combine real landscapes with painterly overlays of colour, creating dreamy scenes that sit somewhere between photography and painting.

The giant playable Game Boy by Arlo Sinclair
Greeting visitors as they arrive is a supersized Game Boy sculpture standing nearly two metres tall. Created by Arlo Sinclair, the nostalgic piece isn’t just for show — visitors can grab the oversized controls and actually play classic games on the screen, making it one of the most interactive artworks at the fair.

Sculptural pieces by Olivia Ferrier
Ferrier’s contemporary sculptures — including quirky animals and works encased in resin — add a playful three-dimensional element among the paintings and prints.

Bold figurative paintings by Charlotte Snook
Snook’s striking portraits and figurative works use rich colours and expressive brushstrokes that stand out across the gallery walls.

An interactive marine artwork by Relton Marine
Not everything here is about quietly staring at paintings. Relton Marine’s ocean-inspired installation invites visitors to get closer and engage with the piece, exploring textures and forms influenced by marine life. It’s one of the more interactive works at the fair and tends to draw in curious kids as well as adults.

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Once the kids have had enough browsing, pop them in the creative corner to make their own masterpieces, colour in a huge communal mural, and hone those classic felt-tip pen skills.

Don’t forget to check out the International Women’s Day exhibition on the mezzanine level, highlighting female artists from across the fair.

Not only that, but this London day out gives the perfect excuse to visit beautiful Battersea Park in the spring sunshine – one of London’s loveliest parks, right by the Thames and the Chelsea Embankment.

And remember: unframed prints can start from under £100, which really is a bargain if you fancy going home with something a little more interesting than a poster.