A NEWPORT art studios development is celebrating 10 years in existence with an exhibition over the Christmas period.

Robbins Lane Studios is staging the exhibition at nearby Barnabas Arts House.

The building at Robbins Lane has been a stables, a goats shed, a French polishers workshop and a squat.

But its renovation by Janet Martin and her team of willing helpers and tradesman transformed Robbins Lane, and it now offers rentable artist studios.

Ms Martin said: “I have been in business in the ‘art world’ for over 30 years as a picture framer, gallery owner and now for the rental of artists’ studios.

“Ten years ago I purchased half a lane, that being Robbins Lane, and converted it from dereliction to the Robbins Lane Studios. Dame Rosemary Butler AM opened the studios back then, and now after 10 years all the studios are rented by artists and craft makers.

“The exhibition celebrates these 10 years and shows some of the activities that happen there.”

Robbins Lane Studios has been a breeding ground for creative diversity for the past decade, with 42 artists having benefitted from using the facility.

To celebrate 10 years of Robbins Lane as a much-used building, an exhibition showcasing the diversity of work produced there is being held at Barnabas Arts House until the end of January 2015.

Barnabas Arts House’s three-storey gallery together with Robbins Lane forms Newport’s only independently-run gallery and studio facility.

Dozens of art enthusiasts attended the exhibition’s opening last month presided over byAssembly presiding officer Dame Rosemary Butler .

Afterwards, Dame Butler said: “I had the privilege of opening Robbin’s Lane 10 years ago, and was delighted to be invited back to formally launch its celebratory anniversary exhibition.

“Barnabas Arts House and Robbin’s Lane are fantastic places and have hosted some of the best artists and showcased wonderful exhibitions. None of this could have been possible without the dedication and commitment of Janet Martin, who I greatly admire."

benefitted from the use of the twenty studios, in addition to musicians, the university, sculptors and Ballet Cymru to name a few. I hope that Barnabas Arts House and Robbin’s Lane can build on its success and continue to thrive in the future.”