Business park to showcase artists.

Art meets business at a Darlington business park, with artists showcasing their work in space that can accomodate anything from huge sculptures to paintings.

The Lingfield business park will allow local artists to showcase their craft in areas ranging from huge industrial space to individual studios in yet to be developed buildings.

Geoff Simpson is a Darlington-based sculptor and University of Sunderland fine arts Masters student, he said: “I was shown what looked like a large, vacant workshop and I was impressed, but then a sliding door revealed a further massive space and I was amazed.

“My dream would be to use the space, or something similar at Lingfield Point, for a colony of artists.

“To have this facility in Darlington would be of tremendous benefit.”

The scheme is part of the public art and cultural programme organised by the 107-acre business park, which includes Futurescope, a two-year outdoor exhibition of eight giant photographs.

John Orchard, director of Marchday, who own Lingfield Point, said: “We are delighted to welcome Geoff to Lingfield Point and hope that he will be the first of a number of artists benefiting from dedicated studio space.

“The provision of these studios at Lingfield Point will be very advantageous for local artists in the wider community. Our ambition is to make Lingfield Point a place where art happens and in the artists; studio it will literally happen.”