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The first May Bank Holiday weekend this year marks the official opening of Art Asylum. A new gallery that can be found upstairs in Brewers Quay, Weymouth. It’s a gallery that aims to change the rules of the Art World by removing the mystery and encouraging everyone to be creative.

Felix Thompson the owner of Art Asylum has been overwhelmed with interest from local artists wanting a place to showcase their work, he says ‘We’ve got fifteen artists on display ranging from a guy in his 90’s to a teenager, they’ve all found me by word of mouth or social media. I want to create a place which is not only inspired but which also inspires, I’d love for the visitors to go home and create art themselves. I believe everyone is an artist’.

Felix Thompson. Artist and owner of Art Asylum.

Felix Thompson. Artist and owner of Art Asylum.

There’s a range of media and styles available in the gallery, Felix’s own style is influenced by his love of music especially Punk, there’s a graffiti artist who has decorated a wall at the gallery, Sean Hepburn’s creative photography has attracted a lot of positive attention, Vince Elliott has found an international fan via the gallery and has so far shipped seven pictures off to Corsica, there are two students Josh of Weymouth College and Abbie Molesworth studying at the Arts University Bournemouth, Alex Holloway produces great faceless cameos of famous people, he’s keen for you to suggest who might be his next subject and Dan Bristow’s photography is beautiful and tranquil.

Interior of the gallery

Interior of the gallery

Mike Bamber is resident stone and bone carver extraordinaire. He has a workshop at Art Asylum and is more than happy to offer demonstrations and actively encourages visitors to have a go at carving. It is the aim to have a range of activities and demonstrations of different artistic techniques over the coming months. The artists are often around to discuss their work and the inspiration behind their ideas. Over the Bank Holiday weekend there will be live music and you’ll find Felix and many of the other artists on hand to give you a tour of the gallery, so call in as there really is art to suit all tastes and budgets.