(Image: Supplied)
A North East hotel has expanded its support for regional artists after their work generated thousands of pounds in sales.
Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland, opposite the Stadium of Light, began displaying artwork from the region in its foyer earlier this summer, through a partnership with Twenty-Four North East gallery in Fawcett Street.
Guests bought artwork from the popular display, prompting the hotel to extend it across every floor.
Gareth Freeman, general manager at Hilton Garden Inn Sunderland, said: "The reaction to the art has been overwhelmingly positive from day one.
"And we are absolutely delighted that guests have bought thousands of pounds worth of paintings, which is good news for the artists and the gallery.
"Because of that we decided we’d give even more artists a platform, so now have artwork displayed on the walls of all the bedroom levels and encourage people to go and view it all."
Read more
Doctor Who star Samuel Anderson to headline North East comic convention
North Yorkshire artists open studios to visitors for a winter weekend event
New 95ft mural transforms North East charity shop wall into landmark
Around 20 artists are featured at the hotel, with paintings replaced as they are sold.
Ken Devine, a founder of Twenty-Four North East’s Fawcett Street Gallery, said its relationship with the hotel was growing stronger.
Mr Devine said: "Working with the hotel has been so successful that my fellow director Barrie Watson now liaises with the growing number of artists and the hotel to drive further progress."