The historic building on Purfleet Street has stood empty in King's Lynn for 20 years is now finally open as an art gallery, showcasing works by well-known artists.

Eastern Daily Press: Opening of Groundwork Gallery on Purfleet Street - Dr Veronica Sekules with the first exhibition in the new gallery. Picture: Matthew Usher.Opening of Groundwork Gallery on Purfleet Street - Dr Veronica Sekules with the first exhibition in the new gallery. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

The first exhibition to be held at the GroundWork Gallery in Purfleet Street is titled Sunlight and Gravity and features works by artists Richard Long and the late Roger Ackling.

Veronica Sekules, head of education and research at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, in Norwich, has been working towards the project for two-and-a-half years.

She said: 'It feels absolutely wonderful to have the gallery open and featuring works of these incredibly talented artists, especially for our inaugural exhibition.

'Each exhibit has been created using the forces of nature, and that's what I think makes each piece incredibly powerful.'

Richard Long's sculpture Full Moon Circle is a key feature in the grounds of Houghton Hall. The Mud series of his works began in the early 1990s, and involves dramatic splashes made spontaneously on the walls and floors of the galleries.

Mud taken from the River Ouse has been used to highlight the effect on one of the walls. Also featured are framed pieces created with mud from the River Avon.

Meanwhile the late Roger Ackling concentrated the sun's rays on pieces of driftwood with a magnifying glass. He travelled the world to use the technique to create the artwork.

A selection of his log books is also on display to show how he recorded the weather and the intensity of the sun's rays when he was working.

Dr Sekules' vision for the space is for an environmental theme to continue through the artwork on display.

The first floor will be available as an area for an artist in residence to live and work on the site and the loft is being converted into a holiday let accommodation.

West Norfolk councillors felt the contemporary plans for the former 1930s workshop were controversial as the building – known as the Winlove Building – is a stone's throw away from the town's Custom House.

'Sunlight and Gravity' will appear at the GroundWork Gallery until 30 October,

Are you transforming a historic building into a public venue? Email louise.hepburn@archant.co.uk