ARTISTS queued round the block in a bid to get their work on display at an Oxford gallery.

For the first time, Modern Art Oxford, in Pembroke Street, is holding an exhibition open to any artist - and it was so overwhelmed by entries that it had to stop taking work before the deadline.

The plan was for artists to bring in their work between 8am and 8pm last Wednesday and Thursday - but it was so popular the doors had to be closed early on Thursday.

A total of 550 pieces of art, each by a different artist, are set to go on display at the Oxford Open, from Saturday, January 12, until February 17, which is sponsored by The Oxford Times.

Andrew Nairne, gallery director, said: "It is phenomenal, we thought we would get a similar number to what we got when we did it four years ago when we had a selection panel. We had about 250 then, but this time, at 550, we got to the point where we had to say that was it.

"We are very sorry that we are turning a few people away - but we are out of space.

"We just couldn't have predicted that it would be quite this number, it is astonishing.

"I have been walking around the gallery and the variety is mindblowing. There is a lot of very detailed figurative paintings, some abstract photography, and sculptures of all kinds."

The only limitations set on submissions, which had to be from Oxfordshire people and only one per person, was that they had to fit into a cubic metre.

But as the artworks continued to pour in, some of the smaller ones were allocated space to fit in as many as possible.

Mr Nairne said: "It's like in an art week when you go round people's houses and see their art, but all in one place.

"For some of the artists, it is not what they do for a living.

"But we haven't made any distinction between amateur and professionals.

"There is an incredible mix and I don't think you will be able to spot on the walls which works are by professionals and which are by those who would not see themselves as professional artists.

"Every kind of art experience is represented by somebody in this exhibition, there is just an astonishing variety."

Every week while the exhibition is open, a guest selector will cast their eyes over the submissions and choose some works of art to go in a separate gallery - then talk about why they have been chosen.

The first will be Alex James, former Blur bassist and artist in residence at Oxford University's department of astrophysics, on Tuesday, January 15.

Other guest selectors include artist Janette Parri and students from Oxford Community School, one of the gallery's partner schools.