RED Barn is certainly one of Cumbria's best contemporary arts galleries.

Owner and much lauded landscape designer Peter Stott set up Red Barn more than a decade ago juxtaposing the gallery with nature's own art in his adjoining Larch Cottage Nurseries, with its Secret Garden, Romanesque walls, and serene gardens hosting nigh on 15,000 varieties of plants.

Down the years Red Barn has staged countless quality exhibitions.

The fourth Red Barn show of 2016 brings a touch of autumnal colour to the gallery with the honey glazed terracotta slip ware of Dutch potter Mathieu van der Giessen.

Mathieu’s traditional jugs, jars and bowls are both functional and beautiful.

"A handmade pot tells the user the story of the author, his ideas, his thoughts, his moods," explains Mathieu. "It shows the hand of the maker."

Mathieu is mainly self taught. Originally influenced by Bernard Leach, he worked for many years as a production thrower for other potteries. He adds. "I have had calculated that I must have turned a few hundred thousand jars in those years." Regarded as a master of his craft and based at Nijverdal, in the Netherlands, Mathieu’s more recent influences and inspiration draws from the French slipware potters which made him realise the direction he wanted to go in, enjoying the direct and spontaneous creative process - and the sunny cheerful atmosphere.

There is plenty of Mathieu’s work to choose from within Red Barn's artistic walls: glossy honey glazes cover original trailed designs using slip, a smooth liquid clay mixed with colour, which is used to coat and decorate the traditionally thrown pots; many of his works are in a palette of rich autumnal shades.

Besides working in his own pottery, Mathieu has lectured in ceramics since 2002.

Also exhibiting at Red Barn is award-winning jeweller, Jenni Wilson.

Established in 1999 and previously based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, she developed her own brand of witty and collectible jewellery.

Jenni - who describes her work as humorous, yet elegantly wearable - uses silver, gold and even tiny diamonds in her pieces which consist of tiny detailed charms, necklaces like washing lines, kitchen utensils and a paper chain ‘people’ range.

She now has a young family and works from her home in Staffordshire. This year she won a highly commended at the British Crafts Trade Fair at Harrogate.

Red Barn is situated in the hamlet of Melkinthorpe, near Penrith, around 40 minutes by car from Kendal going north on the A6, and within easy access of the M6 motorway and A66.

The gallery is open daily 9.30am-5pm

For further information telephone 01931-712767.