The Charlestown Gallery
A tiny Main Street gallery where Nevisian and Caribbean artists share one wall
Why Go
Slip off Charlestown's sun-baked Main Street into a cool, art-hung room where the woman ringing up your painting probably painted half of what's on the walls ΓÇö and taught the artists who made the rest.
The Experience
Founded in 2013 by painter Deborah Tyrell, this pocket-sized gallery a short stroll from the ferry dock has quietly become the heart of the Nevisian art scene. The mandate is loose but firm: feature artists 'of and inspired by Nevis.' That means emerging locals hang beside established Caribbean names, and the rotating walls carry original paintings, photography, sculpture and mixed-media that actually feel of this island ΓÇö turquoise-and-ochre landscapes, Mount Nevis under cloud, Charlestown's clapboard architecture, market scenes. Deborah (or co-director Clayton Huggins) tends to be on hand, and conversations drift easily from technique to which beach inspired which canvas. It's more salon than shop, and travelers who wander in for a five-minute browse routinely stay an hour.
What to Try
Look for Vaughn Anslyn's canvases, which reviewers single out, and anything by the Young family of artists. Beyond wall pieces, hunt down the handmade textile pictures and fabric bags ΓÇö small, packable, and unmistakably Nevis. Ask to see what's in the back or not yet hung; rotations happen often and the best pieces sometimes never make it to the main wall.
Insider Tip
Posted hours are limited (Tuesdays 10amΓÇô2pm is the reliable window, with Sundays often open around cruise days), but Deborah genuinely means it when she says 'or by appointment' ΓÇö email ahead at thecharlestowngallery@gmail.com and she'll almost always open up, especially if you're only on-island a day or two. Bring cash or a card, and if you buy a larger canvas, ask about unstretched rolling for easier travel home.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Main Street, Charlestown, Nevis ΓÇö near the taxi rank and a two-minute walk from the ferry pier. Hours: Tuesdays 10amΓÇô2pm, plus additional Sunday and cruise-day openings; by appointment otherwise. Contact: thecharlestowngallery@gmail.com. Price range: entry-level prints and small textile pieces are affordable souvenirs; original paintings run mid- to high-end and are pitched as investment works. Allow 20ΓÇô45 minutes; longer if Deborah is in.
Pair It With
- Nevis Bakery — Two doors down for a coconut turnover or fresh bread before or after browsing ΓÇö the classic Main Street pairing locals recommend.
- Museum of Nevis History (Alexander Hamilton Birthplace) — A five-minute walk along the waterfront; deepens the context for the historic Charlestown scenes you'll see hanging in the gallery.
- Charlestown Public Market — Just up the street on market mornings ΓÇö same neighborhood color and characters that inspire many of the gallery's canvases.
- Pinney's Beach Guide — After the gallery, cab five minutes north to the beach that shows up in so many of the paintings you just admired ΓÇö then decide which one you should have bought.