A Keighley-born arts graduate has opened a mini-gallery in the town centre to showcase her work.

Kate Mills will use the unit in the Royal Arcade as her studio, as well as selling pieces by several other artists.

She decided to open a shop rather than following the usual artists’ route of hiring a separate studio to work in.

Kate, 23, has named her business The Print Room in recognition of her speciality after four years of study at Leeds College of Art.

She gained an honours degree in printed textiles and surface pattern design.

On sale in the shop is some of Kate’s work from her final degree show, large textiles inspired by Japanese calligraphy.

Kate said: “I took Japanese at Holy Family School and went to Japan three times with the school so I was already interested in it.

“I think my work is always inspired by Japan, intentionally or not, but I also do Yorkshire landscapes.”

Kate, who lives in Laycock, turned to artists she already knew to help stock the shop for its opening. There are a couple of pieces by her mother, Philomena Mills, a member of the local artists’ group Aire Valley Arts.

Fellow group member Jane Fielder, renowned for her urban paintings known as Janescapes, has supplied cards and prints.

Kath Tarpy, another well-known local artist, who used to live near Kate in Utley, has contributed some of her dark acrylic landscapes.

The Print Room is also showcasing work by Alicia Galer, who attended the same Leeds College of Arts course, and is currently taking art internships in London. Alicia was chosen to exhibit at the prestigious annual New Designers exhibition in London this year.

Completing the roster of artists is Caroline Pratt, Kate’s tutor at Leeds College of Art.

As well as original pieces of art and prints, The Print Room also sells ceramics, cards, and gifts, such as screen-printed and handmade notebooks and pencil cases. The shop is open on Tuesdays from 10am to 4pm and Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.