An exhibition, starting on 26 May, is bringing art back to people in Stafford.

Collated by local artist Mia Patterson, the Lost and Found archive consists of over 10,000 photos taken by amateur photographers.

The exhibition will focus on part of this vast collection, showcasing pictures of a stranger's mountaineering adventures across the Alps from the 1970s until the 2000s.

Mia believes that art "should be widely accessible" to everyone living in Stafford, something which has not been the case since the closure of the town's only permanent gallery (Shire Hall Art Gallery), almost 15 years ago. 

By hosting her exhibition at the Ancient High House, Mia hopes to encourage more art to be displayed across the town.

She said: "The gallery [Shire Hall] was an arts hub for Staffordians, and for myself a place I grew up exploring, learning from, and meeting friends and family. 

"At the gallery, I could see from my own town the progression of local artists, and often this inspired me to create my own art.  

"Without the existence of free galleries in proximity to all, audiences of art will not be representative of the world we live in today.

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"It is the intention of this exhibition to initiate a dialogue concerning growth for the arts in Stafford, aspiring to build on the developments the town has already undergone, to create a permanent, accessible public art space for the community."

Mia discovered the pictures of the mountaineer, whose identity remains a mystery, while visiting Foregate Street Vintage Emporium. 

The recent graduate says she finds the lives of ordinary people "more interesting" and enjoys focusing on the "smaller stories" which are often overlooked.

Speaking about what she wishes people to take from the exhibition, Mia said: "I hope that they're inspired to have adventures similar to what I'm able to show. 

"I hope that people feel the enjoyment of seeing photographs in person, especially such old ones, and are encouraged to get behind a movement to bring more art into our town."

The exhibition is free and will finish on 13 June, click here to find out more.