RED Lion Yard in?Okehampton now has its own 'pop-up' art space, thanks to a collaboration between the yard's owner and a local painter.

Anna Georghiou is displaying several of her large and intricate oil paintings in the window of the former Honey Bea shop, which is now up for rent. The shop will house art until it is once again rented by a business.

Anna, co-founder of the Creative Touchstones art and music in the community initiative, hopes to organise further displays by local artists and craftspeople in temporary spaces in the yard.

Phil Bird, co-founder of Creative Touchstones, said: 'Pop-up galleries are a wonderful way to get art into the everyday life of a town.

'The yard's owners have shown real vision in supporting and recognising the potential of original art to enhance the environment of their yard whilst shops are waiting to be let.'

Angus McPhie, who owns Red Lion Yard, said: 'I am pleased to support Anna Georghiou displaying her creative art in Red Lion Yard. I believe in attracting a wide range of specialist retail shops and artists like Anna to enhance people's shopping experience when coming to Okehampton.'

Anna, who made her home in Okehampton after spending seven years in Cyprus, said: 'The majority of these paintings were started in Cyprus and shipped over to Okehampton. I spent several years enchanted by the age old qualities of Greek Cypriot villages, architecture and echoes of Byzantine art.

'Now I am in Okehampton I am moved by Devon's landscape and the atmospheric, powerful moor. These paintings contain a part of Cyprus and a part of Devon. That is one of the reasons that I have called the large painting In Between Places.'