Art gallery opens in former Dockerills hardware store in Brighton

An art gallery has opened in a former hardware store in Brighton, which closed after more than 100 years of trading.

Dockerills, which had been operating in the city since 1915, closed in September last year.

The store, where five generations of the family had worked, cited the Covid-19 pandemic, rising overhead costs and falling trade for its closure.

Kellie Miller Arts (KMA) Gallery opened to the public at the Church Street site on Saturday.

A KMA spokesperson said months of careful renovation had created a purpose-built gallery which would display “hundreds of unique artworks, from painting, print, sculpture and ceramics”.

Its opening exhibition, Liminal, includes work by Rachel Williams, Ashley Hanson and sculptor Klaus W. Rieck.

The gallery spokesperson said: “Representing a new chapter for the gallery and the art community of Sussex and beyond, the space aims to be a beacon for the celebration of original art.”