ART lovers are positively cantering towards the refurbished Old Stable Gallery in Leominster’s Corn Square where a trio of artists are currently showing their work.

The first professional show to be staged in the recently opened exhibition space brings together printer Michael J. Hancock, who is a professional clown, with potter Jason Braham and his wife, Julienne, a painter. By popular demand, their show Print Paint Pot, initially planned for a three-week run, has been extended until February 28.

The artists have met through attending art and craft fairs on either side of the Welsh border, though they have discovered their paths have crossed before. Michael, who specialises in intaglio prints, went to the same Dorchester school as Jason, while he was at university in Reading at the same time as Julienne. Visitors to the show agree that their styles sit comfortably together, and especially at the Old Stables Gallery.

Originally providing stabling in centuries past, the gallery with its heavily timbered ceiling has emerged after years’ serving as office space for council staff. Now the building houses Leominster Tourist Information Centre and is home to Leominster Town Council.

Office manager, Lena Dahnsjo realised the potential of the light and airy room at the back, an area formerly filled with “lots of little offices”, she said .

“It’s such an intimate space, I thought art exhibitions would look very nice here,” she added. As part of a resurgence in the Leominster Town Initiative, the building has become a community hub and there are plans for making the garden into a public area. Meanwhile, the gallery, with its sympathetically installed mezzanine level can be rented out for shows and events.

For admirers of Dr Hancock’s work, there is good news with his plans to run a printing workshop at the gallery for beginners. He will be bringing his portable printer with quantities of paper and ink for his students.

“I have been drawing and painting for a long time, and I have used pictures to develop my clown shows. He was introduced to printmaking at the Sidney Nolan Trust near Presteigne and is now a regular volunteer, and he wants to instruct others in the artform.

“It helps to liberate the creative impulse,” he said.

The work of Herefordshire painter Bronte Woodruff will be shown at the Old Stable Gallery in March.

*For more information about the printing workshops or for details about the Old Stable Gallery call 01568 611734.