WORKS from local artists are being showcased at an Overton business, in a bid to cast away the ‘boring’ stereotype of the insurance industry.

From pottery to abstract paintings, Wessex Business Services has its walls covered in art as a way to draw people into the new High Street shop.

The wacky idea was decided by insurance broker Dr John Mitchell along with wife Emma and business partner Alan Macarthur who opened the multi-purpose premises at the beginning of November.

Wessex Business Services opened as a printing shop, but also houses insurance broker business, Overton Insurance Services, alongside offering professional hot desking space and meeting rooms for hire upstairs.

John said: “We want to be a friendly, smiley face when the rest of the insurance world is a bit more hidden away and difficult to get hold of.

“We came up with a plan to display pictures, pottery - and everything’s for sale. It makes our office really nice and gets more people coming in through the door. It all sort of fits together in a random way.”

The call for art was inspired after a fleeting visit from a shopper who stopped to ask what the store was selling. On hearing it was for insurance the woman said ‘boring’, and John proceeded to follow her down the road to ask what she thinks they could do to attract more people.

Since putting the word out for local artists, John said creatives have been “queueing” to have their art displayed. The business is hoping to do a change-up of exhibits in January.

John added: “It definitely attracts business, it is quite busy, quite a lot of people coming in. asking ‘What’s going on here?’

“As word spreads, we hope that will continue. I love it when people come in just to browse the fantastic local art which hangs on our walls - it is just such a nice place to work.”