DEAR Hearts and Gentle Paintings is an exhibition of work by two Bristol-based artists, opening at Prema Arts Centre, Uley on January 5, 2008.

Przemek Szczordy and Katy Saunders bring together paintings pushing the boundaries of what painting is all about and ceramic art that is touchingly tender.

Throughout his childhood in Poland, Przemek Szczordy was an avid sketcher and painter. His family felt that Przemek should focus his mind on more academic studies but his passion for art remained and his creative pursuits were much supported by his art teacher. Przemek said: "After resigning myself to a career in Economics (and then almost embarking on a law degree) a move to Warsaw, bringing independence, re-fuelled my passion for creativity and I commenced studies in sculpture.

"I came to the UK in 2002 to study English and arrived in Bristol in 2005 where my focus turned to painting - abstract pieces and unique takes' on the Bristol landscape."

Przemek's work is flavoured by many influences - geometry, symmetry and mathematical combinations, using 3D sculptural techniques on canvas, optical art and installation. For this show, Przemek shows a retrospective of his Bristol work 2005-07 and some of his landscape work.

Katy Saunders studied at Swindon College and then went on to further develop her ceramics at Falmouth College. She works from her studio at Jamaica Street in Bristol and is part of the Southbank Artists Collective. Katie creates vessels and beautiful objects from slip-cast porcelain. A key feature of her creative output is the love-heart. Each heart is hand-decorated, using sgraffito, lustres and customized slips and glazes. The resultant pieces are simply exquisite - they fit snugly into the palm of the hand like the most perfect pebble and are sure to make the perfect gift for Valentine's Day.

These exhibitions commence on Saturday, 5 January and will be on show for six weeks (until Saturday, February 16). Entry to see the work is free - however, visitors to the gallery should call Prema first (01453 860703) to check accessibility.