PYRAMID Gallery’s first exhibition for 2015 in York beckons the warmth and bright tropical sunshine of Madagascar to brighten up short winter days in York.

Although York painter Miranda Lowe studied art to degree level, she has pursued a career as a physiotherapist in Sheffield, a profession that has enabled her to travel to the island in the Indian Ocean, study the habitats of lemurs and chameleons and paint in her spare time on visits in 2005 and 2011.

Painting in oil on large canvasses has enabled her to capture the Salvador Dali-esque appearance and colossal height of the Grandidier Baobab trees, the rich colours of the earth against a brilliant blue sky and the intense golden light typical of October and November before the rainy season.

Exotic creatures are natural subjects for Miranda too. Chameleons pose on a branch, fixing the viewer with a beady eye. Ring-tailed lemurs are set against a background of reddish-orange earth and appear almost translucent; a reminder that the “ghosts of the forest” have had much of their habitat removed by deforestation and are an endangered species.

The island's unique primates, reptiles and toads also inspired the work of Aylesbury sculptor Jennifer Lowe, who teachers English, art and dance and is self-taught in sculptural techniques. Among her one-off beautifully crafted creatures is a Travelling Sifaka, for which Jennifer has used internal wires to portray the lemur "dancing" on impossibly thin limbs in ceramic.

"I was attracted to the expressive posture and movement that Jennifer achieves in her studies of animal behaviour," says gallery owner Terry Brett. "She has found a way of strengthening the thin limbs of animals using a method that is completely inconspicuous. This frees up the range of postures that can be achieved and allows her completely free expression."

It is no coincidence that these two artists share the same surname: Miranda is Jennifer’s daughter.

"They were introduced to the gallery independently for previous shows here and have finally been put together for a show with a theme close to both their hearts," says Terry.

"Although located in different parts of the country, Miranda and Jennifer nevertheless influence each other's work and have been working closely for several months on a show that has given them both the creative urge and inspiration to put together an exhibition that will be entertaining and stunningly beautiful."

Jennifer is exhibiting at Pyramid for the second time. Both she and Miranda will be present at the exhibition opening on Saturday between 11am and 2.30pm and images of their work can be viewed at pyramidgallery.com

On show too at the gallery in Stonegate will a new exhibition of silver and gold rings, Ringleaders, features innovative contemporary rings by 20 British designer jewellers, including Stephen Roper, from Leeds.

"Stephen has moved his workshop from Hebden Bridge to the Victorian Arcade in Leeds and is set to become a regular exhibitor at Pyramid Gallery," says assistant manager Fiona MacFarlane, who is responsible for organising and displaying the work of more than 100 designers.

"We're constantly looking for hand-crafted jewellery of high quality and individuality. the gallery, and it's good to find a new maker who meets those criteria and also lives in Yorkshire."

The Madagascar exhibition runs at Pyramid Gallery from Saturday to March 10.