It may be nude by name, but the walls at St Albans’ newest gallery are fully clothed with art.

Run by graphic designer Samantha de Barnard, Nude Tin Can Gallery opened last month to offer artists from across the UK a space to show their work in the city.

“We have had fantastic feedback from people who are enjoying original art on show,” says Samantha, who has lived in St Albans for the past six years.

“We have got a lot of artists coming in and art lovers who are happy that we are here.”

Rewind a year and Nude Tin Can existed in the form of a pop-up shop, three doors away from its new permanent home on Hatfield Road.

Samantha and her team of volunteers enjoyed running the temporary space so much they turned their thoughts to a long-term gallery project.

“We have been quite lucky because the developers that were renovating the shop three doors down were quite keen on it being an art gallery so they offered to fit it out,” explains the 39-year-old.

After an extensive refurbishment, Nude Tin Can – the name is inspired in part by Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup Cans paintings – was ready to go and welcomed in crowds of art lovers at its launch evening.

However the first-time gallery owner confesses her excitement is tempered by nervousness for the gallery’s future as an independent business in the growing cultural hub of St Albans.

“I’m very excited but I’m very realistic,” explains Samantha, who studied graphic design and illustration at university.

“We have got to attract so many people to come here and we do still have to sell art. I think there is quite a lot of enthusiasm from St Albans as a whole, there isn’t anywhere specifically that artists can use or show their work in on a permanent basis.”

And with a series of open submission events for artists to send in their work for themed fortnightly exhibitions, Samantha hopes to draw in plenty of interest from fellow artists and art lovers alike.

“It is great to find artists who are dying to find somewhere to display their work,” enthuses the gallery manager, who is supported by a group of around 20 volunteers.

“Local artists can build up some funds and followers and they will get feedback. As long as it is good, intriguing and unique – we are quite keen to have original stuff.”

Already work by Bristol-based stencil artist Bizzy has gone on show, alongside St Albans-born painter and photographer Adam Stockman.

“I think I’m just passionate about interesting art that is original, there is almost nothing else to it,” says Samantha.

Nude Tin Can Gallery, Hatfield Road, St Albans, open 11am to 5pm, Tuesday and Friday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8pm, Saturday, 4pm. Details: 07870 941158, nudetincan.gallery