Painter Dave Jeffery has run the Forge Gallery since October 1998 but is now planning to concentrate on producing his work from his home in Whitby.

Over the years the gallery has sold more than 4,000 original paintings many depicting local scenes and landscapes.

While The Forge exhibited creations from Mr Jeffery’s own collection it was also a canvas for the talents of other artisits in the area. Mr Jeffery said: “A large percentage of the work sold has been produced by artists living in North Yorkshire locations including; Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby, Scarborough and Staithes.”

The Forge which was popular with both locals and holidaymakers closed on 30 April following a successful nine-and-a-half year period. Mr Jeffery said: “I took over the Forge premises in Bay on the 1 October 1998. Since that time I estimate that I have sold more than 4,500 items of original art; paintings, including my own. Plus ceramics, sculpture, jewellery and crafts.”

As well as running the gallery Mr Jeffery has been involved in a number of other activities in the community. He has overseen art courses in Robin Hood’s Bay, run art tuition classes for adults and worked as an art holiday leader for a national company.

Mr Jeffery says it has been a privilege to work in Robin Hood’s Bay though his early experiences of the area are not quite so memorable: “In the interim period between the opening of the gallery and moving my worldly goods and family from Sheffield to live in Whitby, I lived the hermit life in a caravan in Bay Ness; that is until a gale blew the roof off it on my first Boxing Day on the coast.”

Mr Jeffery’s work can still be purchased in the Swell Cafe, Chapel Street, Robin Hood’s Bay and Thirkills Picture Framers, Flowergate, Whitby.

You can visit his website www.forgegallery.co.uk