Photographer Karen Whittaker has fulfilled a dream by opening her own art gallery.

The Viking Gallery, just off Cliftonville’s Northdown Road, features the work of five local artists, as well as some of Karen’s photography. Also on display are sculptures in wood, along with numerous striking paintings and collages.

The building housing the gallery has seen several uses over the years and has just been converted to provide the display space, workshops and two self-contained flats.

“I wanted to be able to offer artists the opportunity of being able to rent a pleasant place in which to live, work and help run the gallery,” said Karen. “It’s a novel idea and one of the flats has already been taken."

Alistair Burgess designed the gallery and living spaces for Karen. He said: “There’s plenty of natural light coming into the workshops and they can be used in a number of ways."