A new gallery in Kirkbymoorside was officially declared open with a ribbon cutting ceremony by a well-known TV auctioneer.
The Gallery, in West End, is the latest venture by artist Derek Thrippleton from the town and showcases all his own work.
Since taking over the space, Derek and the team quickly got to work renovating the space which has housed several ventures previously including a florist and clothing shop.
It was officially declared open on Tuesday, June 27, by Angus Ashworth, who appears in the Yorkshire Auction House TV series.
In the series Angus and his team are called out to people's homes where they sort through lifetimes of possessions and find forgotten treasures that can be sold at auction.
Derek said: “We have known Angus for many years and we were very pleased when he agreed to the task of opening the Gallery, particularly when he has many filming and TV commitments.”
At an opening ceremony guests gathered to browse round the shop and celebrate the new addition to Kirkbymoorside.
The Gallery is now open every day from 10am to 4pm, except Thursdays when it is open for a half day.
Inside the shop customers can find wildlife paintings and limited edition prints, along with numerous greeting cards.
Derek and the team also offer a pet portrait service for any pet - from dogs and cats to horses.
This can be from your own detailed photograph or the team can take the photograph themselves.
After being a graphic designer for many years, Derek said he wanted to change direction and started painting pictures of animals.
The artist said these paintings were very well received and led to him becoming a pet portrait artist, later branching out to paint wildlife.
As reported by the Gazette & Herald last year, he even won an award in a national art competition for his painting of an elephant.
Derek took the top prize in the UK wide Supporting All Artists (SAA) Artist of the Year Competition, for his painting of an elephant.
The painting won Derek the Supporting All Artists Award in the wildlife Animal or Wildlife category, which had 2960 entries and 306 finalists.
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At the time Derek told the Gazette & Herald: “It came at a bit of a shock - after 300 finalists – to even have a chance.”
On his new gallery venture, Derek said: “It has been a long-held ambition of mine to open my own gallery and when these premises became available I thought that the time was right to realise that ambition.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do for myself.”
The Gallery can be found at 4 West End, Kirkbymoorside.
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