SALTCOATS town centre saw its first pop up gallery open in one of the empty shops on Tuesday.

And Gallery Sometimes is packed with paintings and crafts created by amateur artists in the Three Towns and across North Ayrshire.

The art venture was the idea of Ian Roberts who ran a successful similar event in West Kilbride.

He decided to try another town and Saltcoats seemed the ideal location for the pop up gallery that will exhibit until September 25.

Ian found an empty shop in the middle of the town at 94 Dockhead Street.

And the aim of Gallery Sometimes is to allow people who may be enthusiastic but don’t consider themselves as artists to have their work put on show.

He said: “We are delighted to have a new gallery venue at Dockhead Street, right

in the heart of the town centre.

“For four years, the West Kilbride gallery was a great success and a platform for artists and I wanted to show that it could work in another town.

“We have had great support from people in the community and the Ayrshire Community Trust have been a great support for the Gallery Sometimes project.

“It is a great location and the community really helped us find it. At our gallery, nobody is turned away, it’s a showcase for everybody’s creativity, no matter what level they may be at.”

The art gallery will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays each week.

Ian hopes people pop in to have a look around at the arts and crafts on display.

He went on: “It’s a great opportunity for artists to show their work locally and for people to have the chance to visit a gallery on their doorstep.”

Next, Ian is looking at other towns in Ayrshire where he could take Gallery Sometimes for the next pop up gallery.

“I have been asked to look at a Gallery Sometimes in Largs and possibly in South Ayrshire and it would be great to do that,” said Ian.

Anyone who wants to have work considered for future pop up galleries can contact Ian at gallerysometimeswk@gmail.com.