SPRING is in the air and Red Barn Gallery's seasonal show is gracing the walls of the popular art space.

The Melkinthorpe gallery, with its improved layout, is emerging from the winter months with a striking display of work created by a marvellous mix of artistic talent.

Running until the end of April, Red Barn's latest exhibition features the captivating ceramics of Sheffield-based Anna-Mercedes Wear - animal forms in elegant or amusing poses captured in time, each one brought to life with colour and energy. Anna uses her clever techniques - which include printing, drawing and hand-building - to create each decorated character, sculptures depicting the figure in ordinary day-to-day scenes and observations of family life, each piece is unique, some are auto-biographical, all have their own fascinating and personal story.

She explains that decorating before construction gives the pieces a vibrancy and energy that she cannot achieve in any other way: "With all of the work, both figures and animals, I try to capture a fleeting moment in time, a memory of something past and familiar; a continual adventure."

Also featured in the gallery's spring exhibition are the pastel and gouache paintings by award-winning artist John Threlfall.

John's fascination with the 'wildscape' of nature and birds never wanes, making pictures which successfully portray the world he is most at one with.

His images show scenes which are captured by being there and sketching actually in the field. They depict the tranquil moments in time obtained only by quietly watching and waiting.

From an early age John had been encouraged to appreciate and respect the landscape and to feel its beneficial influence on the body and the spirit. However, it wasn't until graduating from university, through long summers in upland and island Britain working with the British Geological Survey, that John's desire to document observations and experiences began to take form, and he was compelled to witness the natural world through pencil and paint.

Moving to Dumfries and Galloway in 1992 was the catalyst that firmly put birds and other wildlife into those landscapes.

"Living on the Urr estuary off the Solway Firth in south west Scotland, I'm surrounded by a constant source of inspiration, influenced by the ever changing light and the ebb and flow of the tide," says John. "The Bay and surrounding hills echo with the calls of a wide array of birds."

Completing the exciting exhibition line-up is a brand new collection of designer jewellery by Yulan, courtesy of award-winning makers Yu Lan and Paul Burkmar.

Introducing their new shell and chilli pieces, the collection features silver uniquely worked into petals and leaves, instantly loveable and wearable necklaces, earrings and bracelets in pure white silver and rainbow finishes.

Yulan Jewellery is designed and handmade by Yu Lan and Paul in their workshop in the old fishing town of Leigh on Sea, in Essex.

Adjacent to Red Barn Gallery, is enterprising owner Peter Stott's Larch Cottage Nurseries and the La Casa Verde Restaurant, a truly culinary gem located right in the heart of the beautiful gardens, combining his love of art, beauty, good architecture and exceptional food.

Red Barn is located in the hamlet of Melkinthorpe, near Penrith, open daily from 10am-5pm.

Telephone 01931-712767.