A NEW art gallery will ship rare works all over the world when it opens in the North-East next week.

Eyestorm, owned by international businessman Don Smith and well-known art dealer David Grob, is being dubbed an art warehouse because the Gateshead business will sell limited edition works across the globe.

Mr Smith, who was born in South Shields, has brought millions of pounds of artwork to the North-East, with well-known names such as Damien Hurst and David Hockney going on show.

Eyestorm has relocated one of its galleries and its website and warehouse business from Bethnal Green, London, after deciding that the North-East was the UK's art mecca outside London.

Mr Smith said: "We feel that London is saturated with art galleries, but we chose Gateshead after looking at places like Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds because Tyneside is putting art on the map.

"The opening of the Baltic (contemporary art centre), the Sage Music Centre and the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative to win the European City of Culture bid for 2008 makes the area really attractive."

Initially, Eyestorm will be open for viewing on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and Wednesdays from 10am to 8pm each week. It hopes to display the work of North-East artists in six months time.

For more details log on at www.eyestorm.com