A POPULAR family-owned picture framing business in Belfast is closing down after 45 years.
The Picture Gallery on Queen Street in the city centre was set up in November 1976 at the height of the Troubles.
Owner Sheelagh Caldwell, who has been involved in the business since it was established by her father, is now planning to close the shop after Christmas.
She used to work behind the till after school and later took on the family business.
"I'm devastated. The building is being developed into apartments so I have no choice but to leave," she said.
"I've decided this is it for me. I'm retiring."
Ms Caldwell said she will miss seeing her regular customers and getting to know new ones.
"You get to know people," she said. "You get to know a second generation coming in now."
"It's an art being able to take a picture and make something of it, because a nice frame can either make a picture or destroy it."
Ms Caldwell said as well as prints, paintings and photos, she has frequently framed some more unusual items.
"I remember some time ago someone brought me in a fork for his brother's 18th birthday," she said.
"Apparently when they were younger this brother, Conor I think his name was, always fought to get this fork at dinner-time. It was a slightly smaller than normal fork.
"There was also a young married couple who had a loose floorboard. The husband thought he could secure it but he put a nail through a pipe. His father-in-law came to fix it. The wee bit of pipe with a hole in it was brought down to me to frame it.
"I've framed barristers' collars, footballs and rugby balls. I like to see people's faces when they see their picture and are happy with it.
"That's contentment. That's job satisfaction."
Ms Caldwell said she had seen huge changes in the city centre.
"When we started you had LeisureWorld up the street and Athletic Stores. It was a fairly arty street. Now they're all away," she said.
"Craftworld came and now they're away. We've lost businesses and they haven't been replaced."
