A new art gallery has brought a blaze of colour to a seaside town hall.

Jackie Kitch has opened her third gallery in Hunstanton in the carrstone civic building on The Green.

The ground floor, which previously held the resort's tourist information centre, is now filled with paintings, photographs, art works and crafts.

Eastern Daily Press: The Town Hall at Hunstanton, which now has an art gallery on its ground floorThe Town Hall at Hunstanton, which now has an art gallery on its ground floor (Image: Chris Bishop)

Mrs KItch, 57, previously ran Naked in Norfolk on Westgate before moving to the Coal Shed, part of the now defunct railway station by the seafront.

She was planning to retire at the end of the summer season last year, but changed her mind when she heard the town hall was available.

"I couldn't resist it," she said. "I think Hunstanton's booming at the moment, there's no empty shops.

Eastern Daily Press: Artist Angela Banner with one of her works in the new gallery at HunstantonArtist Angela Banner with one of her works in the new gallery at Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

"People on their staycations have realised how wonderful the north Norfolk coast is."

Artists love the sunsets and the big sky beaches. More than 40 have their works on show at the gallery, called Artworks @ The Town Hall.

Painter Angela Banner, said: "We are so blessed to have such beautiful beaches and wildlife reserves.

Eastern Daily Press: Jackie Kitch (left) and Esther Marshall in the new gallery at HunstantonJackie Kitch (left) and Esther Marshall in the new gallery at Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

"There is always so much inspiration in Norfolk."

Many of those exhibiting are members of the West Norfolk Artists Association.

Its chair Esther Marshall said: "It's a fantastic location, I think Jackie's done an amazing job.

"It's so lovely for local artists to have somewhere to exhibit their work."

Eastern Daily Press: Tom Inglis with some of the paintings he crates on scrap woodTom Inglis with some of the paintings he crates on scrap wood (Image: Chris Bishop)

Lockdown made many seek solace in their art. Helena Anderson, who ran the Gaywood Arts Centre in King's Lynn for 15 years before retiring to the coast, said: "Just putting paint on a paintbrush, on a canvas is therapeutic.

"During Covid a lot of art clubs would give us a challenge, like 'paint Norfolk in the style of the French impressionists'."

Former carpenter Tom Inglis turned to art full-time during lockdown, putting down his tools and taking up painting, using reclaimed timber as his canvas.

"This was something I really wanted to do," he said. "Two years ago, when the first lockdown started, I had six weeks to myself and I was painting every day.

Eastern Daily Press: Olly Thornalley, whose abstract paintings are on show at Artworks @ The Town Hall in HunstantonOlly Thornalley, whose abstract paintings are on show at Artworks @ The Town Hall in Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

"I had about 50 paintings so I decided to try to sell them."

The youngest artist is Olly Thornalley, a 12-year-old member of the family who run Thornalley Funeral Services in King's Lynn, whose abstract works are featured.

"I'm pretty excited about having them on show," he said,.

Artworks @ The Town Hall is open from Friday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm.