ARTIST Jo Walton's current series of paintings and prints are a direct response to rust.

Her work is a mixture of experimentation and discovery, persuading surface rust to leave its metal and imprint onto paper and fabric, rendering the artist's copious collection of metal objects useful, as well as beautiful.

The process is slow and always unique with only a relatively small amount of control over the end result. The rust is forever changing, as are the solutions of chemicals on its surface. No two prints are ever the same, it is a magical process of transmuting a common substance, it feels like alchemy.

This summer Kunsthuis Contemporary Art Gallery at Dutch House, Crayke, is welcoming Jo to exhibit a dedicated series of works that she has been persevering to make to satisfaction for about five years before achieving desired results.

This exquisite collection ranging from prints on silk, paintings, and prints on paper explore the artists affirmation with this specific material and its alterations to seasons, time and temperatures.

Jo said: "I have always been fascinated by rust, the colours from burnt orange to umber, its weathered, changing surface and slow development. The colours resonate with my childhood; memories of Australia with its red earth, running around farms which had rusted corrugated roofs, metal shacks, broken machinery.

"I’ve collected pieces over the years – not knowing what to do with them but unwilling to let these beautiful ‘lumps of junk’ go.

"Eventually, I discovered the method of persuading the surface rust to leave its metal and imprint onto paper and fabric, which has now rendered my objects useful, as well as beautiful.

"The process is slow and always experimental with only a relatively small amount of control over the end result, which can never be repeated exactly. The rust is forever changing, as are the solutions of chemicals on its surface. No two prints are ever the same… It feels like alchemy."

Jo said the Yorkshire landscape also greatly inspired her.

“I regularly go on painting weekends with friends in the Dales or at the seaside. I do prefer the sea for inspiration – wherever I find it," she said.

"Horizons fascinate me, imagine being at sea for six weeks as an eight year old, it’s all I ever looked at, waiting for a glimpse of the next country.”

The gallery is also proud to present work by ceramicist Penny Phillips, who explores the boundaries of using clay to express movement and vitality. Where appropriate, the ceramicist will experiment with other media to enhance the finished piece using wire, nails and copper. Her work explores a great fondness and love of English wild animals as well as domestic animals and traditional livestock.

Another newcomer to the gallery is ceramicist Julia Roxburgh, whose pieces delight with colourful decoration that make her work instantly recognisable. She embellishes strong, bold forms with over the top baroque modelled details, vibrant patterns and glittering gilt finishes making each piece a handmade work of art. Her work offers flamboyance and exuberance of personal experiences as a theatrical prop maker in a London theatre which is still a major influence on her work and practice today.

The works of Dutch artists Lei Hannen and Sjer Jacobs can also be admired throughout this exhibition, not to mention a second chance to see Flos Pol’s beautiful paintings in our art cafe before her work returns back to the Netherlands.

The exhibition runs until August 30. Kunsthuis is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm.

For more information, go to dutchhouseyorkshire.com or phone 01347 889431.