By Jemima Laing
Detail of Courage Of Youth by Mike Jory
Artist Mike Jory says he finds Devon's scenery "a constant delight" and for his latest exhibition he is inspired especially by its animals.
Are You Looking At Me? features paintings and sketches of the animals and landscapes of Devon.
There will be 25 original works and up to 12 sketches will be on show at Exeter Picturehouse in June 2010.
The paintings feature cows, horses, goats and sheep in a range of media and sizes.
Mike gets in his car and travels to his favourite places in Devon, like the obelisk at Mamhead and Burgh Island, taking photographs and sketching and then returns home to create his work.
Detail of Baby Blue by Mike Jory
The works on show in Exeter have been created over about a year and Mike says they "very much encapsulate the South West".
"Painting cows on Dartmoor means you get to see the animals interact with their environment, " said Mike.
"For example, a cow lying down and mostly obscured by the heather, a horse peeking out from behind a tree, or one herd encountering another. Things you might not normally see in a typical Devon field."
Mike loves to paint living things whether it's people or animals.
He lives and works in Exeter and his work has appeared in the National Gallery and is in private collections throughout the UK, Europe and the US.
"I hope these paintings have a universal appeal and hopefully bring a smile to people's faces as they recognise something of the animal's personality or see some humour in the behaviour depicted."
Are You Looking At Me?
Tuesday 1 - Monday 14 June 2010