The newly opened Binghams Art Gallery in Stow-on-the-Wold has had a good start to life under owner Ian Pullinger.

The gallery is Ian’s first foray into the professional art world, and he explains why he chose to finally go for it after years of working as a tradesman.

Ian said: “I had 25 years of experience with paint and brushes as I was a decorator. Then one day my knees got tired of bending up and down to paint walls every day.

“I’ve collected art over the years and as I’ve grown older I’ve gotten more and more interested in it, so I decided to open the gallery.”

Ian opened the gallery in August and already has some stunning pieces on show from some of Britain’s best oil painters.

He continued: “At the moment we’ve got four main artists in exhibiting all original oil paintings. Three of them are accredited by the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

“Richard Combes is one, and he does really quirky still life paintings, all sorts of things from industrial and derelict buildings to bottles of water. He lives out in New York and has featured in exhibitions by the Royal Academy of Arts, so I’m pleased to have some of his work in.”

Alongside Combes, Binghams also features esteemed artists including Roger Dellar and Jeremy Barlow, as well as sculptures by William Harling and Lucy Kinsella.

Despite being the new kid on the block when it comes to art in Stow, Ian is already looking to raise the profile of the gallery and the local area.

He said: “There’s already a few galleries in Stow, and although we’re all technically in competition with each other, we are coming together to hold a Stow Art Week next year in September.

“We all know there’s brilliant galleries and art in Stow, and we want everyone else to know that too!”