A showcase of artists’ work hanging in Great Yarmouth library galleries is being hailed as among the “best ever” to be staged at the venue.

Around 20 artists working in a variety of mediums have been showing off their skills in the first ever taster exhibition ahead of Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios which gets underway on Saturday.

The aim of the exhibition - which continues for two more days until tomorrow, Thursday, afternoon - is to help people choose who they would like to visit in their studio and also to promote the work of artists in the sometimes overlooked Yarmouth area.

Organiser Angie Hewitt, who has some eight pieces in the exhibition, said while other areas of the county came in for artistic acclaim there was still plenty of talent in the east of the region.

Already many people had seen the exhibition and been impressed by the variety and scale of what was on show, Ms Hewitt said.

Some people had gone so far as to say it was the “best ever” they had seen at the library galleries which are gearing up to host what looks to be their busiest year in visual arts.

Ms Hewitt said the exhibition’s success was down to the range of work on show with stunning photographic portraits alongside salty seascapes, sculptural pieces, jewellery, and her own fairytale-inspired work.

Prices range from £30 to almost £2000.

Ms Hewitt, 37, and fellow artist Jane Ebel will be transporting their home studios to the library gallery, where they are used to showing as The Contemporary Arts Duo, from Saturday until Friday June 3.

Having graduated from UCS Great Yarmouth three years ago the mother-of-two who lives in Gorleston said her experience of living with depression had informed her art.

She hopes to stage the taster exhibition again next year in a bid to raise the profile of local professional artists.

Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios runs until June 12. All artist opening times are displayed within this year’s brochure or online at www.nnopenstudios.org.uk.

In all 450 artists are taking part across 255 venues, along with 16 Norfolk schools.