GAVAGAN Art's first exhibition of the year features a rare public showing of the acclaimed wares of a leading light of raku pottery.

Raku ceramics by Stephen Murfitt are on display within the Settle gallery's latest show - Collectors’ Rooms: an Exhibition of painting, prints and sculpture, running until May 29.

Established in April 2010, Gavagan Art is based within Settle's town hall with three art spaces.

Gallery owner and well-known curator Mary Gavagan was director of the Lancaster University art gallery for more than 20 years and her experience and contacts has paid off bringing scores of respected painters and ceramicists to the North Yorkshire gallery.

Mary says she was delighted to exhibit the work of the glaze expert and highly regarded ceramicist: "I first exhibited Stephen’s work in 1985 when I worked at Gawthorpe Hall, the National Trust property in Padiham East Lancashire," explains Mary. "Then again in 1989 when I included his work in an exhibition of contemporary ceramics I curated at Lancaster University."

Stephen, who is based in Cambridgeshire, rarely exhibits in the north of England.

His raku ceramics can be found in many corporate, private and public collections, at home and abroad, and he's author of The Glaze Book published by Thames and Hudson.

He says his work is driven by an obsession with clay and its versatility: "I make ceramic forms and vessels which are hand built and raku-fired."

Raku pottery is hand built and fired at a low temperature and rapidly cooled.

Expressive and fun, raku firing is regarded as one of the most exciting processes in ceramics.

Stephen’s work can be seen in the end gallery of Mary's art space while the central display, in the ochre painted room, features artwork from Cornwall, including examples of work by Terry Frost, Alan Davie and Breon O’ Casey alongside ceramics by Peter Swanson, Chris Prindl, Delan Cookson, Rick Henham, and Jack Doherty.

The first art space leading into the Gavagan Art gallery shows works by Anna Lambert and James Hake, Norman Adams and Milan Ivanic.

Gavagan Art is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 11am-4pm. Bank holidays from 11am-4pm

For further information visit www.gavaganart.com.