Saltaire’s creative buzz is to be bolstered by the opening of a new art gallery and craft space.

Former photographer Angela Walmsley, 33, who lives in the model village, has run The Butterfly Rooms, a gift, arts, and interior accessories shop in Bingley Road, since March.

On its first floor she plans to have an art gallery open in time for the Saltaire Festival in September, but in the meantime will be holding small exhibitions there, with an open day every month.

She said: “I’ve had so many artists coming into the shop that I’m going to run temporary exhibitions downstairs until then. Ultimately I’d like to use all the rooms for a creative purpose like craft classes and film evenings. The potential for the building is huge.”

Miss Walmsley, who has worked as a housing association manager for the past six years, said she wanted to “get back into doing something creative”.

She said: “The place seemed perfect. I had dreamed of having my own gallery for years and the building was just how I had always pictured it.”

Business support service Business Link helped Miss Walmsley by giving her financial and legal advice in the run up to the shop’s opening.

Advisor David Healy said: “The opportunity is certainly there for The Butterfly Rooms to succeed.

“The upholstered cushions and boutique beanbags fit in very well at Saltaire and Angela is very passionate about what she does. I think that if she concentrates on achieving growth in the first year, it will allow her to fulfil her dream of opening up the first floor as an art gallery.

“Once she does that, potential for growth will be even bigger as it will help draw more people into the shop.”

The first exhibition, on Sunday, May 9, will feature four West Yorkshire designers – Charlotte Tudor, Hannah Greenwood, Cat Johnson and Clare Ormerod.

For more details visit thebutterfly rooms.co.uk.