Peter and Helen Locke opened their fourth pop-up art gallery last week in a converted garage at their business A Colourcity Apartments.

While the Lockes have been art enthusiasts for over 40 years, it was only last year they decided they wanted to do more to celebrate Orange artists.

“We opened our first gallery in February last year,” said Mrs Locke. “We’ve been doing this for 15 months now.”

Mr Locke said the driving force behind creating the galleries was to give Orange artists the recognition the region’s food and wine enjoys.

“I never had any idea how many talented artists are in Orange,” he said. “I feel very humbled when I look around.”

The small gallery is showcasing around 30 works from artists including Eris Fleming, Des Farr, Loretta Blake and 13-year-old Kaluumn Maple, who won the year 7-8 division of the RSL Anzac Art Award this year.

The serviced apartments are also decorated with pieces from the region’s artists, but Mr Locke said he wanted to give the wider community a chance to enjoy the art in a gallery.

“Only people in the apartments can see the artworks,” Mr Locke said. “We want everyone in Orange to be able to see the artworks, not just the people staying here.”

The Lockes are focusing only on paintings and drawings in this pop-up gallery, but Mr Locke said in the future they would include other mediums.

“We’ve had a few sculptures before but I only know a bit about painting, so they’re the ones we’re focusing on right now. In the future I want to get some more sculptures in.”

The pop-up gallery is open on every fine and clement day including weekends until June 12, from 10am to 4pm.