It’s not long now until the official opening of Letchworth’s new dedicated art gallery.

And the first exhibition in the former Letchworth Arts Centre space will put the spotlight firmly on a home-grown artist.

Modern art pioneer Richard Smith, whose work has been showcased at the famous Venice Biennale and in the Tate Gallery, was born and raised in Letchworth.

The abstract painter and printmaker is renowned for his bold and vibrant use of colour and texture, and long been recognised as one of the important painters of his generation.

He credits Letchworth’s arts and crafts movement as a source of inspiration for his work and a key component in his development as an artist.

The Broadway Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, entitled Reunion, will celebrate his rich body of work spanning six decades.

Audiences will be able to enjoy a selection of his drawings, paintings, collages and prints and discover more about the artist through a series of interviews, photographs and books.

Visual arts curator Laura Dennis said: “Richard’s vibrant and joyful paintings are the perfect way to celebrate the opening of the Broadway Gallery, and it’s fantastic to be able to show these wonderful works back in his home town.”

The free exhibition opens on Wednesday, February 24 and will run until Sunday, June 5. The gallery will be open from 10am to 5pm from Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

For more information about the gallery visit www.broadway-letchworth.com.