Patients at a dental surgery have good reason to sit back and say "aaah".

The Clinic in Gloucester Road, Brighton, has doubled up as an art gallery featuring works by some of Britain's most renowned contemporary artists.

The dentist's chair in Dr Jeff Amos's surgery faces a 12ft-long 1966 painting by abstract artist John Hoyland.

To calm the fears of nervous patients about to be examined, the waiting room is filled with other artwork from Dr Amos's own collection.

He said: "At first when people come in they gawp at the pictures but it certainly gets them talking.

"It doesn't feel like sitting in a normal dentist's waiting room. Hopefully the pictures engender a bit of escapism.

"The green Hoyland one has generally helped complement the surgery, exerting a calming influence."

Dr Amos bought the painting two years ago - but had nowhere to put it until the clinic opened five months ago.

He said: "I have put it in the surgery here because there is nowhere else it will fit. It was in storage before then."

Also taking pride of place in the corner of the surgery is a Gibson copy electric guitar.

Dr Amos said: "I sometimes have a strum at the end of a busy day. Sadly my dreams of being a rock star have passed me by."

The main love of Dr Amos, who studied on a four-year art history course, remains post-war British abstract art. Artists featured on his walls include Ben Nicholson, Robyn Denny and Donald Judd.

Many of the works have at some time been loaned to galleries across Europe such as the Barbican and the Tate in London, and the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

Dr Amos, 45, said: "There are a few other practices in town who display local artists' work.

"I'm not knocking local artists but this is more stuff from the Fifties. These are big names who are a bit neglected.

"They have been eclipsed by abstract American artists like Jackson Pollock."

Dr Amos admits splashing all his spare cash on art.

He said: "The dentistry funds the hobby. The problem is, I really shouldn't keep collecting more and more paintings because it is an expensive habit."

Dr Amos, who teaches a modern art history course for the Open University, owns about 100 paintings in total.

He plans to change the selections in the clinic every six months.

He said: "The pictures up at the moment are quite conventional.

"We might throw in a few more challenging ones at a later date."

Squeamish art-lovers have nothing to fear if they fancy just visiting the gallery for a viewing - dental appointments are not required.