Riverside Gallery in Inverness is busy due to a ‘pent up demand for art’ following coronavirus lockdown
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The owner of an Inverness art gallery is noticing more people visiting the city and surrounding area as the lockdown restrictions are eased.
Hugh Nicol, who runs the Riverside Gallery in Bank Street, said people were gradually becoming more confident about returning to the city centre.
He said he had noticed a lot of people wearing masks when they visited Inverness and added: “Up here we have a lot more common sense and people should feel safe to move around.
“People can go back to restaurants and pubs because it’s perfectly safe – provided people treat it with common sense.”
He said there was also plenty of space to allow for social distancing.
The building where the gallery is based also houses the Scottish Flair gallery and, between them, they have an extensive selection of art through more than 200 years – from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
The gallery was established in 1982, in nearby Bow Court in Church Street, and Mr Nicol took over in 1986.
He moved to the current location in 1991 and said he used the time during lockdown in the gallery to catch up on work. He said: “It was just a few days a week – I couldn’t work from home for the framing side of the business.”
Mr Nicol said it was very busy when they reopened because he felt there had been a “pent up demand for art”. He added: “We are getting some very good sales.”
He agreed that Inverness BID had done a good job during lockdown and afterwards, in keeping people informed over the latest regulations. He added: “They were keeping businesses updated.”
