Former Wilko store to be turned into art studios

The former Wilko store in South Shields has been vacant since the company collapsed in 2023

A former Wilko store is to be turned into an art gallery and studio in an attempt to give artists an affordable space to work.

The vacant retail unit in Market Place, South Shields, has been taken over by Laura Robertson and Theodore Godfrey-Cass, who plan to turn it into a collaborative workplace.

The pair have named the building The Market Gallery and said they hoped it would add to South Tyneside Council's planned regeneration of the town centre, which will see the college relocated there.

Ms Robertson said she wanted the gallery to be part of the new "lease of life that is coming to South Shields".

The Market Gallery will include an area to display work as well as studio booths and a larger space, which could be used for dance and musical pieces.

Mr Godfrey-Cass, who is originally from Los Angeles in the US, said if the centre was a success, they may install more equipment.

Theodore Godfrey-Cass wants the studio to be able to teach people how to make clothing in the future

"My dream is to eventually get screen-printing presses, heat presses, sublimation printers and, hopefully in the long-run, an embroidery machine, so we can teach people skills like how to make their own T-shirts and clothing," he said.

He also intends to use the old storefront's large windows as a canvas for seasonal communal paintings to help brighten up the area.

The artistic duo were asked to run the gallery by Easy Streets Arts, a charity which works to match artists with empty spaces.

Ms Robertson said the charity would pay the business rates for the site, allowing The Market Gallery to offer "extremely competitive rates" for its studios.

Laura Robertson wants the gallery to be part of the expected regeneration of South Shields town centre

"There's still that barrier for young artists, even old artists, who feel they haven't got the portfolio behind them, haven't got the exhibitions behind them, and feel they have those limitations," she said.

"We just want to offer those people an opportunity to show South Tyneside what they're made of."