Fort William's Lime Tree studio and art gallery is about to undergo a significant expansion which is expected to create 10 full-time and six part time jobs.

Lime Tree is run by local artist David Wilson, who set up the business as a small studio and exhibition space for his own artworks eight years ago. 

Now he plans to carry out major improvements which will greatly expand the gallery, with a strong focus on staging community events and showing artwork from national collections.

Central to the development is a new exhibition complex, featuring one main gallery with four smaller rooms attached.  The artist's studio space is to be enlarged and a new shop established selling art materials. 

Significantly, the plans will enable the main gallery to operate for most of the year on a non-commercial basis, offering free admission to a diverse range of shows chosen by members of the local community. 

Existing bed and breakfast accommodation on the premises will also be expanded to create an attractive small hotel of four-star standard, with nine en-suite bedrooms, restaurant and bar.

The alterations are estimated to cost just over £662,000 in total, with most of the funding coming from private sources.

The expansion qualified for a funding package worth £52,600 from Lochaber Enterprise and European Union assistance administered by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network worth £45,805. 

Creating the new gallery plugs a gap in public access to important artworks and fulfils a long-standing ambition for Mr Wilson.

"When I moved here, I was amazed that there was no public gallery space on the mainland west coast north of Glasgow capable of hosting shows from national collections," he said.

"That will change with the Lime Tree expansion.  For the first time, artists of world stature, such as Picasso and Monet, will be shown in Fort William, which will create such a buzz for the local community and visitors to the area.

"I am delighted that the enterprise network and the LEADER+ programme share this vision and have given their support."

Because Mr Wilson's wife, Charlotte Wright, is the acting chief executive of Lochaber Enterprise, the Lime Tree application was processed and approved by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in Inverness, with the local enterprise company playing no active part.