A NEW gallery has opened in the county after three years planning by businessman David Kellett.

Its aim is to provide a setting for new contemporary art, where visitors can browse and reflect their potential purchase over coffee and great cake.

David moved to the county seven years ago, to expand his successful farm machinery business.

Estate agent Bill Jackson suggested the old Theale Fireplace workshop at Wormbridge might fit the bill and - though David knew that the support infrastructure 'south of the river' could impede his plans - one glimpse of the property and his heart was hooked.

Wife Catherine took a little more persuading; the unit was much bigger than they needed.

Consequently one of the outbuildings, a former staff canteen, remained empty after the family and firm moved in.

A traditional timber barn, David often wondered what to do with it. It wasn't practical for his machinery store as there was no fork-lift truck access and the interior rooms were all quite small.

A trip to the Lake District saw fate play a hand, as David called in to a caf and gallery near Penrith.

"It was in the middle of nowhere, yet really quite busy," he said.

"I've been back and it's going from strength to strength.

A synergy of talent between David's daughter Debbie and local businesswoman Kate Bull - former co-ordinator of Herefordshire Art Week - led him to believe he could make a gallery work in Herefordshire.

The barn was converted by a firm of local builders. Interior walls were partially knocked through and the mezzanine floor was removed to reveal a light and airy shell, perfect for reflective study.

"We've tried to do it with as much integrity as we could, to give the artwork the best hit."

The gallery will show contemporary art that changes every month.

"Everyone's loved the space and I'm very hopeful that we've got the feel right.

"I'd like it to be a space that artists really like, of a quality that will generate interest nationwide."

David's been in the dairy business all his life, providing machinery to it.

"It's a very straightforward industry," David said.

A model dairy is something that will also find full use now that the gallery and caf are open, with a new full-time cheese-maker and ice cream-maker providing fresh produce for the outlet.

Nick Ellis, 37, has moved to the county from Bournemouth to take up the position.

"He's willing to give it a real go and has such enthusiasm for the product," David said.

Having started one or two farmers off in cheese-making, when diversification became key to survival, David is overjoyed to have his own dairy on site.

"I've made ice cream for the family for a while and we've had great fun with the tastings, getting the flavour right."

Galanthus ice cream will be made with local milk and Jersey cream, with no stabilisers or additives.

"We have clarity at the moment, everybody knows what they have to do.

"I'll be interested to see what people's reactions are to our collection, which is the key to the whole."

The gallery will show a varied programme of work including painting, prints, photography, sculpture and ceramics, as well as designer-made jewellery.

The inaugural exhibition, which opened on Saturday, includes new work by Helen Cass, Edmund Sayer and Bryony Burn.

Ludlow artist Helen Cass' sensual, abstract wall pieces are created by drawing, stiching or folding lines on to or into a woven surface.

Edmund Sayer, a painter from Southampton, uses enamels, gloss, varnish and other household paints on board to create his expressive island landscapes in strong primary colours.

Bryony Burn is a young artist who recently moved from Manchester to Herefordshire. Her distinctive ceramics combine simple slab-building techniques with bold layers of pattern, stamped and scored to create a variety of different textures.

Galanthus Gallery and Caf is situated on the A465 Hereford-Abergavenny road.