Many of us loved the Wallace and Gromit movies when we were growing up - but one Norfolk man decided to turn that enjoyment into a full-time job.

Alistair Nicholls, 25, runs a one-man stop-motion animation studio in the former Debenhams store in Great Yarmouth.

The Belton man, who has made music videos as well as ads for brands including Louis Vuitton, says that he has always loved animation.

"My grandad did stop-motion animation on Super 8 cameras. I always found that quite magical," he said.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A pair of plasticine boxing frogs made by Alistair Nicholls at his animation studio in Great Yarmouth.A pair of plasticine boxing frogs made by Alistair Nicholls at his animation studio in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Alistair Nicholls)

Later, Mr Nicholls made short animated movies himself with a DV camera, before studying the art at university in London.

"But I ended up having to teach myself from the internet and books," he said.

Once he finished university, he decided to start his own studio and do it full-time.

"It was a massive risk. For the first three months I made only £50.

"I thought, if I don't start making any money, I'll have to get a so-called real job."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: 'Jazz telephone' - a plasticine model made by Belton man Alistair Nicholls at his animation studio in Great Yarmouth.'Jazz telephone' - a plasticine model made by Belton man Alistair Nicholls at his animation studio in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Alistair Nicholls)

Those fears never came to pass, and Mr Nicholls has been busy making music videos, title sequences and advertisements.

He also makes short sketches on his Instagram page, where he now has almost 48,000 followers.

"I'd like to make a short film one day but trying to find the time is quite difficult," he said.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Alistair Nicholls, 25, with one of his plasticine models.Alistair Nicholls, 25, with one of his plasticine models. (Image: Alistair Nicholls)

A new job always begins with a mysterious email, out of the blue, from people he has never heard of before.

The latest came from an art gallery in Busan in South Korea, where his work is being exhibited as part of a show called 'The Postmodern Child'.

"I've never really seen this sort of stuff in an actual exhibition before. It's normally sculpture and expensive paintings," Mr Nicholls said.

His studio, called Smile at the Moon, is located in Primeyarc, the former Debenhams store in Market Gates, where he works in what used to be the cleaning cupboard.

The space is run by Kaavous Clayton and Julia Devonshire of Original Projects.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A plasticine model of an egg with a face in its yolk, made at Smile at the Moon animation studio in Great Yarmouth.A plasticine model of an egg with a face in its yolk, made at Smile at the Moon animation studio in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Alistair Nicholls)

"Without them I really wouldn't be able to do it as easily. They're just wonderful. They do so much for Yarmouth," Mr Nicholls said.

"I feel so privileged to be able to do this as a job. I've been doing it two years now. It's still ridiculous I can go to work and make things out of plasticine.

"It's all I ever really think about."