FIVE Herefordshire artists are showing their most recent work at The Courtyard, Hereford, from May 29-July 28.

Artists to The Fore features Patrick Cox, David Jones, Daniel Crawshaw, Stella Hidden and Katie Kimberley. Their paintings and sculpture reflect a selection of the best contemporary art being created in Herefordshire at the turn of the century.

Cultural Services at Herefordshire Council has organised this exhibition to provide a glimpse of Herefordshire's artists, from Katie Kimberley, who is just starting out to Patrick Cox and David Jones whose work has recently taken new directions.

The appeal of the exhibition lies in the strength of the paintings and the thought provoking sculpture. The paintings on show range from Patrick Cox's large sensuous explorations of colour through Daniel Crawshaw's series of eye paintings, strangely disembodied eyes peering from dark backgrounds, to Stella Hidden's colourful array of paintings with their rich, bold textures and musically inspired compositions.

The two sculptors on show couldn't be more different. Katie Kimberley is a recent graduate and concentrates her attention on intimate thoughts and memories of childhood. David Jones is well known in north Herefordshire for his vivid collages and woodcarvings. He is now in the process of developing mobiles and solar powered sculpture which express his irrepressible, lively and humorous personal style.

Cultural Services is keen to make contact with individuals or small groups with a view to developing exchanges between the public and the artists. Anyone interested in meeting a particular artist or artists taking part in the exhibition or wishing to be involved in an informal talk/discussion during the duration of the exhibition, contact Melanie Bateman to discuss the proposal and the artist's availability on 01432 261818.