Since last week I was in the south west, I feel I should give the Buttermarket in Enniskillen a mention.

Actually I was there on Bank Holiday Monday and much of the town was closed which perhaps accounts for the dreary atmosphere in what could, and should, be a lively craft centre.

Plenty of the units are occupied by a good cross-section of painters, jewellers, potters and photographers yet the general feel of the place was anything but lively and a number of the units were closed.

The potter wasn't there, and the art supply shop was closed, which was pretty disappointing and just added to the feeling of neglect. Unfortunately this wasn't a one-off — I've been there numerous times and found units either unoccupied or unattended.

Surely Bank Holiday Monday would have been a great day to make the most of the open areas by having craft stalls, and so on which would have added a festive feel and attracted more people.

So many of these places need enthusiastic management to keep them up and running successfully and without sliding downhill.

Back now to Belfast and the Mullan Gallery on the Lisburn Road, which is always good for something contemporary. William Crozier's bold simplicity and original approach caught my eye. He certainly isn't afraid to use large areas of vivid colour, breaking, perhaps a still-life, into four or five basic shapes which divide the canvas.

Good to hear that the gallery is expanding into the basement and hopes to open in late September with an artist, Dennis Hollanger, whose landscape-based work will be new to Northern Ireland. Also in the pipeline is a new series called The Path of the Saints, by Ardglass artist Paddy MacMiadhachain. These works are small, almost monochrome, abstract landscapes full of symbolic imagery.

And finally, something of a coup for the Mullan, a retrospective of the work of Pauline Bewick tracing her development from her earliest work at the age of four.

Finally, a reminder that next Thursday is, once again, First Thursday for selected galleries around Belfast, when they stay open until 9pm. There are nibbles, perhaps even wine and music and generally a great atmosphere. So it’s a good incentive to come into town, browse some art and do some late-night shopping into the bargain.

See www.belfastgalleries.com for details.