THERE will be a snappy new exhibition opening at The Courtyard, Hereford, from Friday, January 30.

Artist Matt Clarke will be displaying paintings which have developed from his interest in natural forms and structure during his Dangerous Crocodile Snogging exhibition.

From microscopic imagery to satellite photography of the earth, as well as from the sky, the sea, the land and the figure.

The title of the show, Dangerous Crocodile Snogging, is taken from the name of a climbing route in the Peak District.

The works displayed are created sometimes directly from life, sometimes from photographs, seeking to give as much freedom to the paint as possible and respond to what is happening on the surface as much as what is happening in the source material.

Matt said: "Layers of chaotically applied paint are built up, then very fine brush work is used to give certain areas focus, or knock other areas back.

"It is this balance of order and chaos that is of great importance to me."

Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, he now lives in Hereford having gained a fine art degree in painting at Loughborough College of Art and Design in 1998.

He paints professionally and his work has been shown at Loughborough University Gallery, Greenstage Gallery, Worcestershire, Cupola Contemporary Art, Sheffield, The Cube, Derby and the Wallner Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham.

It will be displayed in The Courtyard Exhibition space on the top floor until Sunday, March 22.

he Gallery is open 9am to late from Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sundays and is free to enter.

For more information visit www.courtyard.org.uk.