A Darlington art gallery has tripled in size and seen business increase tenfold since it opened six years ago.

Richard Hindle and Gwen Brown opened Gallerina in a Victorian town house in Duke Street in November 1998.

They wanted to promote local artists, make art affordable and accessible to all, and to demystify the world of contemporary fine art.

Today the gallery has spread across three houses, with a total exhibition area of 2,400sq ft, offering an ever-changing exhibition of paintings, glass and ceramics by local, national and international artists, with an exhibition room for solo exhibitions and a framing service.

A loyal customer base has been developed, with visitors regularly travelling long distances to collect a work from their favourite artist. Work has even been sent to Australia.

Expansion has been so rapid that the business has only recently been able to look at marketing and IT, with help from Business Link.

Suzanne Henty, account manager, has been their main adviser since June and has recently brought in Paul Martin, UK On-line for Business adviser at Business Link, to advise on funding for a greater on-line presence.

Gallerina has invested in wall mounted, touch-screen computers, which will be in place by April, as well as in a publishing facility, which allows prints to be produced, helping local artists to get their work featured in other galleries and providing further scope for a national and international collector base.

"Although to date the gallery has received no financial assistance, Business Link has provided an invaluable source of information and guidance helping the gallery to identify the resources available," said Mr Hindle, who previously worked in a photographic studio and owned a part-time framing business.

Visiting trade fairs for framing materials put him in touch with established artists and made him aware that very little of their work was being exhibited in and around Darlington. Many were interested in exhibiting in the area and a portfolio was quickly built up.

Once he opened Gallerina, a number of local artists came forward and their work was exhibited alongside national and international artists.

Darlington and the North-East boasted many talented artists and Gallerina regularly promoted and exhibited on their behalf outside the area, said Mr Hindle.

Two local artists can sustain themselves as full-time, self-employed artists through their work being exclusive to the gallery.

Until next Friday, Gallerina is displaying the work of acclaimed local artist Tom McGuinness, 77, a coal miner in the South Durham coalfield for 40 years. His work hangs in private collections and galleries all over the world.