AN artist who claims to have spotted the creature Bownessie on Lake Windermere has opened a gallery in Skipton.

Michael Bentley, 52, of Clitheroe, recently opened the new art gallery at 2 Albert Street and it features 25 to 30 of Mr Bentley's original paintings on display.

Mr Bentley, who used to live on the shores of Lake Windermere, said he spotted a creature referred to as Bownessie on while he was kayaking on Lake Windermere in 2007.

"I was on the lake, just a few hundred metres from it," said Mr Bentley. "There was a big black fin sticking out of the water and it was cruising around."

The artist is known for his Turner style paintings, including one of Bownessie which he painted shortly after seeing the creature in 2007, and said he turned down an offer of £100,000 for the painting.

Mr Bentley, who will be doing regular exhibitions at the gallery every few months, is excited about his new gallery which is generating a lot of interest.

"The opportunity came up for me to take over a gallery in Skipton," he said. "My Turner style paintings of Windermere always seem to get a lot of interest."