A NEW light and airy art studio and three hi-tech eco pod holiday homes have been launched on Portland.

They were opened at White Stones Art Café in Easton by Portland Mayor Charlie Flack and Weymouth and Portland Mayor Gill Taylor.

This creative space will enhance the existing café, gallery and gardens at White Stones.

It has also been designed with the environment in mind. The studio was built with local Portland stone and uses solar electric panels, air heat pumps and collects rain water.

The studio and holiday units are the vision of White Stones owner David Nicholls.

He said: "It has been my dream for several years to provide something totally new and different for the area. The concept of an environmentally conscious workshop and holiday retreat which offers a creative space for local and international artists and tutors to share their skills with the community and visitors, is now a reality and better than I could have imagined.”

David, a poet and artist himself who established White Stones in 2004, said he hope the White Stones studio will appeal to people looking for an escape from busy working lives. The three holiday residences sit alongside the studio, behind the garden which is home to David’s mosaics, and exhibiting artists’ sculptures and 3D pieces. The art café serves locally sourced produce and features work by local and national artists.

Courses will be on offer at the studio. People can learn art forms such as mosaics, contemporary encaustic wax, silver jewellery, Portland stone carving, painting and meditative therapies, with many more in the pipeline.

The eco residences are listed on Airbnb.co.uk and can be booked independently or with a workshop class. The studio is available to hire for tutors and practitioners who wish to offer their clients an extra special environmentally friendly total package. Book a workshop via the White Stones website, or on craftcourses.com