A new art gallery has opened in Ipswich with the aim of giving lesser known artists the recognition they deserve.

Subterranean Boulevard, based above Loveone in St Peter’s Street, was the idea of Paul Fisk who was also behind last year’s The Festival of the Beats.

There will be an ongoing exhibition of work by local and international artists as well an array of artist’s portfolios, many who exclusively exhibit with the gallery.

Mr Fisk said: “Since we held the beats festival we’ve continued to run regular exhibitions at Ipswich town hall, which include regular Vagabonds Lounges, where we welcome performers of all abilities to share their talents. We’ve introduced local young people to the arts and enabled them to discover their own abilities as artists.

“Now we’ve been very fortunate to be offered the opportunity to open our own art gallery. Subterranean Boulevard gives me the opportunity to exhibit art I feel needs to be shared with the world, by artists who are extremely talented but for some under recognised”.

The gallery hosts its first solo exhibition at the end of February, displaying work by Ipswich-born artist Dale Mann who has exhibited nationally but never in his home town.

Cathy Frost, who owns and runs artisan gift shop Loveone, added: “I’ve been sharing my upstairs space with a variety of talented individuals over the last seven years. I’ve known Paul for a number of years and am thrilled to be working with him. The art works he selects to exhibit complements the artisan products we already sell.”

Subterranean Boulevard is also the hub for Mr Fisk’s company, Midnight City Junk, which will oversee the development of the next Festival of the Beats in April 2016.

The gallery is open 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday or other times by appointment. To contact Mr Fisk about the gallery or the next beats festival, email Midnightcityjunk@btinternet.com or call 07858 738080.