HUMAN Emotion is the theme and title of a new exhibition of "people's portraits" at Kunsthuis Gallery, at the Dutch House cafe and wildlife garden in Crayke, near Easingwold.

On display is the work of two Dutch artists, ceramicist, painter and bronze sculptor Sjer Jacobs and contemporary acrylic painter Joep van Kerkom.

The prolific Jacobs uses a variety of media to express his fascination with people, their mannerisms, gestures and movements.

"His ceramic works are traditional in style,exploring notions of the familiar and the tactile, as well as intimacy and security," says gallery co-owner Cecile Creemers. "They're often light hearted, sweet and playful, and Sjer is intrigued by people and how they relate to each other."

Jacobs says he "shamelessly loves watching people; their faces, postures movements and relationships".

"A gallery owner once mentioned that I tend to devour people with my eyes," he reveals. "The things I see, I store in my memory somewhere. When I need them, they reappear and transform into paint, clay or plaster models, just as I stored in my head. From then on, they have a life of their own, telling their own story."

Joep van Kerkom is intrigued by curvaceous, vibrant and natural forms.

"Joep experiments with human form, placing it within flat, colourful backgrounds," says Cecile.

"He mainly works in oil and acrylics on canvas; he's a daring artist, always looking to cross his own creative borders. His work for this exhibition comprises portraits in the form of simplified human depictions, set against luminous green, orange and red backgrounds."

Cecile and Dutch Housze co-owner Sjaak Kastelijn opened the Kunsthuis in the spring to display bronze, wood sculpture, ceramics, oil and acrylics paintings by a mixture of Dutch and British artists.

Human Emotion is the third of the gallery's Across The North Sea shows this summer, also featuring bronzes by Tanja Webbers, jewllery by Jenny Gill and screenprints by Helen Lang, alongside the work of Jacobs and van Kerkom.

Through the summer, the Kunsthuis is exhibiting artwork by Stef Mitchell, Bridget Wilkinson, Ian Mitchell and Helen Lambert. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday.