Artist Alex Reuben saved "every penny" from a job at a clothing store to fund his dream of opening an exclusive gallery. And it seems all his hard work is finally paying off.

The Mancunian recently opened the Contemporary Six art gallery at the Royal Exchange shopping arcade in Manchester's city centre. The 25-year-old has been planning the venture for three years after completing a fine arts degree at Leeds Metropolitan University. He launched the gallery earlier this month with sixty pieces of art. They included work from internationally-acclaimed British doodle artist Jon Burgerman.

Mr Reuben, who lives in Whitefield, tells People that "pieces had been found through art contacts in London and New York and were selected purely on whether it is the kind of artwork I would hang in my own home." He says: "People ask if it was a risk to open in the midst of a recession but if it weren't a recession I couldn't have afforded the property in such a location. And I've been amazed by the response from artists."

Mr Reuben admits he hasn't had much time to work on his own art of late because he has been tied up with the gallery. The 500 sq ft venue will also house works from Royal Academy artist Stephen Chambers and Iranian-born Farsad Labbauf, who has exhibited at Chelsea's Saatchi Gallery.