A DARTMOOR artist has encouraged the town council to make its paintings more accessible to the public.

Bob Tucker, who runs Tucker's Gallery on West Street, has suggested the potential for the council to create a permanent exhibition for the 16 paintings in its possession.

The town hall and council chamber house a number of valuable paintings by renowned artists, including 'Okehampton Castle, Devon' by FJ Widgery, famous for his landscapes of Devon and Cornwall, and 'Farmyard' by eminent animal painter John Frederick Herring I.

Mr Tucker thinks Okehampton would benefit from the town council making the paintings more publicly available: 'Okehampton Town Council buildings presently house a fine collection of paintings, including some by Widgery. Council representatives have expressed a desire to make the paintings more accessible to the public.

'The quality and number of the paintings involved have the potential to form a stand-alone, permanent exhibition.

'Such an "Okehampton Art Gallery" would raise the cultural profile of the town, also offering a useful educational resource, and could bring in welcome visitors. It would be interesting to hear whether this project would be popular with local residents.'

The council is keen to make more people aware of the paintings, and encourage them to come and view them personally.

Mayor Maureen McDonald said: 'As a council we have discussed the possibility of inviting people up to see the paintings hanging in the council chamber before, and it would be nice if we could have an open day or something where people can come in and look at them.

'Some of them are rather valuable and I think it would be wonderful for more people to take an interest, pop into the town hall and have a look. The paintings in the council chamber can already be seen on request, by asking the town clerk.'

If you would like to view the paintings, you can call the town clerk on 01837 53179 or drop into the town hall during opening hours to arrange a viewing.