A NEW art gallery exclusively for emerging talent has opened in Chester.

Art Box Gallery, located at 96 Boughton, provides budding artist in the local community the opportunity to display and sell their work.

It already offers a wide range of pieces including paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics and photographs.

More than 20 local artists are now displaying their collections, giving them an affordable and professional setting to raise their profile and sell their work.

Liz Dunning, the Art Box Gallery art co-ordinator and curator, said: "Art Box is a really exciting opportunity for Chester’s talented artists to display their work and gain recognition for their talent.

"We have been really pleased with the interest in the first few weeks and for the sales we have achieved for our artists."

Art Box is supported by a group of local businessmen who want help local artistic talent.

Known as ‘Patrons’, these individuals support the gallery both financially and through using their business network and connections to both promote and increase awareness of it.

Michael Green, who lives in Chester and is head of marketing at Kaleidoscope Group which is one of the gallery patrons, said: "I am both excited and delighted to be part of the Art Box Gallery, it is a great initiative for Chester and one that is sure to improve the opportunities for local talent of all ages.

"It’s historically been hard for emerging artists to find the platform they need to promote their work and this initiative removes that obstacle while also providing a possible revenue stream for their work."