EYE-CATCHING work by a promising young artist has gone on show in a gallery already renowned for its originality.

Middlesbrough-born Mackenzie Thorpe is still in San Francisco, where new work by him has been taking America by storm.

Some will be on sale at an exhibition which opened with a special preview for invited guests at his Arthaus studio on Finkle Street in Richmond, North Yorkshire, last night.

However, this time, Mr Thorpe is happy to take a back seat.

The star of the show is local sculptor, Richard Stainthorp, who has been making his mark by shaping graceful statues entirely from wire.

Much of the work on show in Richmond has already been sold and will be moving to a gallery in Twickenham in London in a fortnight.

However, in the meantime, North Yorkshire art lovers have been given the opportunity to get to know the 25-year-old's work, which is becoming increasingly popular in fashionable London and Manchester.

"It all started when I was modelling for stone and threw some wire together to give me something to work from," said Richard, who was born in Hartlepool, but went to school in Barnard Castle.

"I realised I enjoyed working with it even more and things just went from there."

With a degree in biology as well as a degree in sculpture, Richard found human shapes and form relatively easy.

"I hope it complements Mackenzie's work.

"I think we could both be described as contemporary and the sculptures and paintings work quite well together."