A NEW art gallery in a former Costa coffee shop in Leigh is bringing colour and culture, with stunning works from international and home grown talent including a painting created by the King!

Hype Gallery, in Leigh Broadway, is proving to be a big hit in the community and bosses are bringing together homegrown talent and internationally-renowned artists.

The plush new gallery replaced the former Costa, which shut down in October 2022 after its lease ended.

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The gallery also boasts a copy of a painting created by King Charles of his home, Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.

The artwork is a collectable and one of only 100 made. The work is set to be displayed after the coronation.

It’s described as “seriously collectible....a serious investment.”

The business is run by co-owners Justin Mullins and Marcus Mursell and it also selling unusual furniture too.

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Mr Mullins, who has worked with the likes of Vogue magazine as a photographer, said: “It’s been going really well and we’ve had a lot of positive feedback.

“We hope to get Leigh artists involved with international artists and I think both will inspire each other.

“I think a lot of Leigh and Essex based artists need support and do not get it. We want to help them get off Instagram and come into a gallery.

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“We are working with people from all across the world. We are working with very well known Essex artists such as Dan Kitchener, and Carl Sims, who works with Southend Jam.”

Other notable names the gallery is working with include Tim BretDay who worked with David Bowie, and Steven Gerrard, just to name a few.

Daniel Pincham-Phipps who drew for the Beano comics is another name and artist on show at the gallery.

The gallery opened in March and also offers unusual pieces from Alchemy Furnishings, working with Mr Pincham-Phipps.

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Mr Mullins added: “After years of shooting for magazines such as Vogue, I’ve met so many creative people who do not get the exposure and chance to show off their work.

“I really want to pull in Leigh and Essex crowd and out their talent and get them in the gallery and start selling their works.

“We want to make the up and coming artists ride the wave of the established.”

The bosses are also planning a jazz-themed evening with Sean Wilson, who’s best known for his role as Martin Platt in Coronation Street, which he played from 1985 to 2005 and for a brief stint in 2018.

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Mr Mullins added: “Sean Wilson does a lot of jazz inspired painting so we are planning on a bit of a jazz evening with him and musicians too.

“We are also working with Essex based artists such as Yvonne Jack and Jenny Sexton.”

The open and airy space looks worlds away from the former coffee shop and boast some impressive and stunning art work, along with the quirky furniture.

On the side of the building, artist Spray Saint has crated a colourful and striking mural. The gallery also has a new display this weekend with Japanese-inspired art from Brian Parker and other Essex based artists.