An art gallery opens in Brighton next week showcasing some of the South Coast's most promising talent.

QUODart will provide some much-needed space to show off the city's thriving art scene.

The gallery is attached to the QUOD Bar And Restaurant in North Street.

It is the brainchild of Jeremy Mogford, who opened the first Browns restaurant in Brighton in 1973.

Darvish Fakhr's Brighton Buildings will be the first selection to be hung in the gallery.

It will be alongside work by Anna Hymas. Darvish, 34, moved to London from America eight years ago to study at the Slade School of Fine Art. Then in 1998 he was attracted to the creativity in Brighton, his mother's birthplace, and has been a fond resident ever since.

Much of his work is influenced by his new-found home and he is delighted the city is finally getting the dedicated space for art its vibrant scene deserves.

He says: "For influences, Brighton is the best places an artist could live. In London I felt so detached from everyone but I feel at home.

"Such a huge variety of people and buildings all live happily side by side.

"That's so inspirational. And the unique way the light catches the buildings is like they are on a stage.

"But in terms of dedicated space for art work it's not so good. It's fantastic QUOD is now offering such a space. I hope it's a sign that things could be changing."

Darvish first appeared in The Argus back in 2001 when he started painting piles of rubbish.

As he walked from his home to his studio he was overcome by the beauty of waste piling up in doorways.

These exhibitions focus on the city's buildings and people. He will regularly stop to paint a building that inspires him. Or take a person back to his studio who catches his eye.

He says: "My work is all about personality."

Call QUOD on 01273 772002 for more details.

Darvish, from Kemp Town, also has an exhibition called Brighton Faces in the Redroaster Coffee House, St James's Street, Brighton, as part of the Fringe Festival.