SKIPTON area artist Linda Mellin, winner of Yorkshire Life’s Landscape Artist of the Year, is to open a new gallery in Harrogate.

AC Gallery officially opens its doors on Saturday at 17 Commercial Street and Linda will be in the gallery from 11am to 3pm unveiling her two latest paintings – capturing Harrogate in all its glory.

With Linda’s originals selling within days of release and the popularity of her prints growing by the week, visitors can meet Linda and see her full collection, which will be on show.

Linda’s work has resonated with art lovers, her colourful and detailed style has captured many well-known places around Yorkshire and the Lake District.

Born and brought up on a farm in the Dales, Linda has grown up with nature and painting and drawing have been an integral part of her life. After studying graphic design at York University, she worked as a graphic designer before the farm, and family life, took over.

In her student years she was often reprimanded for putting too much detail into her work and admits that even now she regularly gets lost on the detail.

For many years Linda painted in watercolour, doing commissions for family and friends but a few years ago she began to paint in acrylic, loving the vibrant colours and way the medium worked.

Now Linda will spend hours drawing out and planning a painting, long before the first brush strokes begin in earnest.

Linda considers herself extremely fortunate to be able to paint full time and is constantly amazed at the incredible response her work has received.

AC Gallery initially launched her work with an event at their Skipton gallery last spring.

All the originals sold within days and the prints were quickly proving very popular, so more work was commissioned and the gallery signed Linda up.

The gallery is open 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.

Refreshments will be available at the official opening this Saturday.