A centre for homeless people will transform into an art gallery on Saturday.

Homeless Action in Barnet (HAB) will mark its 20th anniversary by opening its doors to the public with a display of paintings and photography by clients, staff and volunteers.

The exhibition features work produced at a weekly art group which has been running through the charity since 2013.

Art teacher Sonya Levin said: “Some of the work is incredibly powerful and is often a way to communicate what cannot always be expressed verbally.

"For clients to show it publicly can be a very brave thing to do indeed.”

Lemlem Haile, 57, has recently been housed and regularly attends the art sessions, contributing coloured drawings to the exhibition.

He said the process of drawing in the art class is “like cleansing from your history and expressing the spoken and unspoken.”

As well as hot meals, showers, dry clothes and other basic essential services, HAB aims to be a "place of change" providing advice, support and empowerment.

Ian Cormack, Services Manager said: "We want to show people what we do here and the artwork is just one example of the positive things to come out of our centre.

"We launched a challenge to clients, volunteers and staff to submit art and the response has been amazing - I have to admit the clients were a lot quicker to produce pieces than the staff!"

The exhibition kicks off from 12pm on May 20 at 36b Woodhouse Road, Finchley, with free entry and light refreshments are available.

Donations to HAB can be made by sending a text to 70070 with the message HABC36 £2/£5/£10, or visit www.habcentre.org for other ways to give.