Hundreds gathered at Southampton’s city art gallery for an exclusive preview of 2017’s new exhibitions.

With four new shows the city’s “phenomenal” collection was opened to art lovers from across Hampshire and London with what has been hailed the south coast’s finest body of twentieth century British paintings.

The Morris Dancer and The Rat Catcher: Modern British Figure Paintings from the Collection has been curated and sponsored by London art dealers Jonathan Clark and Sandy Mallet who described Southampton’s collection as in “a league of its own,” and “a collection of truly important masterpieces.”

Former city art gallery director Stephen Snoddy’s Looking At: Abstraction is a collection of his own responses to ten abstract paintings in the city’s hoard.

 Hilda Margery Clarke’s work hangs in galleries five and six.

Called ‘Still Hanging Around’ it is a retrospective of the 90 year old Bitterne resident’s career, and includes a “kaleidoscope” of subjects from nuns to hay bales.

Her painting of the Floating Bridge Farewell has been hung next to her friend and celebrated British artist LS Lowry’s depiction of the same – before it closed and the Itchen bridge was built.

There is also a foyer show by local photography club Phorum.