Christa Keirstead, left, and Jacques Martin visit the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

FREDERICTON - If you want to see some of the finest art in the world you don't need to visit New York, London or Paris - a small but prestigious gallery in New Brunswick may be just what you're looking for.

Nestled along the edge of the St. John River, located across the street from the New Brunswick Legislature in Fredericton, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery is home to paintings by Dali, Turner, Freud, and Gainsborough, to name just a few.

The gallery opened in 1959. It was a gift from British-Canadian press baron Max Aitken, the first Baron Beaverbrook, to the province where he grew up. It included about 350 paintings from his collection, those of friends, associates and other donors - a collection now valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

"At that time it was one of the finest, and still is, finest galleries in Canada," said Bernard Riordon, director and CEO of the gallery. "He collected paintings that we couldn't collect any more."

For the last six years, 133 of those paintings have been at the centre of a custody dispute which has kept the gallery in the news. The heirs of Lord Beaverbrook claim the paintings were simply on loan, and they want to sell them to raise money for the Canadian and U.K. Beaverbrook foundations.

In September, the gallery won a lengthy court battle with the U.K. Foundation and was awarded custody of 85 of the paintings, but the foundation is appealing. A claim by the Canadian foundation for about another 80 paintings has yet to be heard by the courts.

But for now, none of that matters to those who want to see the amazing collection.

Visitors to the gallery are greeted as they enter by the huge "Santiago el Grande" by Salvador Dali, donated by Sir James and Lady Dunn, that hangs near the main entrance.

"It has been our signature piece and hanging here since 1959," Riordon said.

The collection has expanded to include approximately 3,500 pieces of art, although current space restrictions permit only about 10 per cent to be shown at any time.

However, Riordon said they rotate the works and loan many of them to other galleries.

"For example, our Dellacroix painting now is in Marseilles, France, and last year our Turner painting was in Italy and Scotland. They become our biggest ambassadors for the province, for the city and for the gallery. There are always about 50 pieces in circulation somewhere."

The building consists of 10 gallery spaces which separate the works into different categories and collections.

Among the most impressive is the Masterworks collection, which includes such works as Turner's "The Fountain of Indolence" and Lucian Freud's "Hotel Bedroom."

There is also Graham Sutherland's portrait of Helena Rubenstein.

"She didn't want Lord Beaverbrook to buy the painting," Riordon said, "but when she heard it was going to be put in his Fredericton gallery she said it was alright because nobody would see it."

The gallery now has between 35,000 and 40,000 visitors each year, along with approximately 5,000 students who take art tours. The guestbook includes addresses around the globe.

"I'm a little bit overwhelmed that there is such a collection in what is essentially a small pocket of Canada,"said Sean Connolly of Toronto as he toured the gallery recently.

"You can't ease yourself into this gallery," Connolly said as he viewed the huge Dali near the front entrance. "As soon as you walk in the door it's here."

Fredericton native Forrest Long, who now lives in Alabama, said he has been visiting the gallery since it opened.

"I grew up in Fredericton so the gallery has been part of my life," he said. "Every time I'm back I drop by to visit."

Long said the gallery rivals any he has visited in the United States.

Luke Randall of Fredericton raved about the works in the gallery's permanent British collection.

"You'd have to fly to England to find such a good collection," he said.

The gallery celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009 and as part of the celebration, the federal government announced $3.4 million for the gallery to upgrade its facilities.

The money will be used for a number of projects such as opening more gallery space, and improving the climate control system.

Riordon said there is are also plans for an expansion in the future.

He said it's hoped that anyone who visits the gallery will feel enriched when they leave.

"Hopefully they would have an experience with the art that makes them feel good, makes them feel uplifted, and ... I hope it would make them feel very proud that we have preserved one of the finest collection of art and culture in Canada and in the world," he said.

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If you go . . .

Beaverbrook Art Gallery: The gallery is open every day with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year's day. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $3 for students and free for children under six years of age.

More information can be found at www.beaverbrookartgallery.org and the gallery can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.