Steel dogs and coppiced willow tree sculptures as the Ferrers Gallery enjoys Animal Magic

Exhibition: Animal Magic, Ferrers Gallery, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, January 6 – March 18 2012

The spin the Ferrers team have put together on the animal kingdom for their opening gambit of 2012 is something to behold.

Duncan Thurlby offers steel dogs, Lucy Palmer shapes feral shrines in intricate jewellery, Sharon McSwiney makes mice from brass copper and, using withies and rods she has personally grown and harvested, Caroline Gregson depicts the natural world with the help of coppiced willow trees.

There are a total of 15 sculptors at play here, including well-respected Dundee ceramicist Julian Jardine, whose perfectly executed little pieces symbolise his love of the wild, fantastical, sci-fi and mythological, accompanied by shimmering mosaic mini-masterpieces from the hand of Amanda Anderson.

"We have a number of Ferrers favourites exhibiting," reveals gallery manager Ally Thorne, singling out Thurlby's "magnificent metalwork". "There is fantastic new work to see.

"Animals are always a favourite with our visitors, and this exhibition launches our middle floor into the Olympic year in style."

• Open 11am-5pm (closed Monday). Admission free.