MOVE over lads' mags. Adze Gallery, in York, has an eye for the girls and a passion for the female form in The Exalted Feminine, a new exhibition of painting and printing.

This selling show of erotic and nude paintings, drawings and etchings by four British artists of international standing, Inge Clayton, Anet Duncan, David Beer and Krista Taylor, opens tomorrow at noon at the Gillygate gallery.

The exhibition features paintings and original prints commissioned by Adze Gallery for sale in the run-up to Christmas: Clayton's smouldering prints and paintings; Duncan's abstracted body forms; Beer's small intimate pastel studies; and Taylor's large sensual oil and acrylic paintings on canvas.

Gallery director David Durham says: "We're delighted to show works by these reputable British artists for the first time in the north. This exhibition has plenty of original gift ideas for the man (or woman) who has everything. We believe the show will be a great success."

Clayton has lived and worked in London since arriving from Austria in the Sixties. She studied life drawing, collage and printmaking at the Camden Arts Centre and is a frequent exhibitor at the Royal Academy.

Beer is based in St Ives, Cornwall. "He's especially known for his small intimate studies and paintings of the coastal landscape, harbours and jetties of St Ives, so we're pleased to represent a lesser-known aspect of his work," says the director.

Krista also lives in Cornwall, moving there from Lancashire in 1984 to complete her studies at Falmouth College of Arts, and she exhibits widely in the south west and London.

"Her bold canvases and use of colour offer a spectacular framework for her exploration of the female figure, through personal experience and feelings," says David.

The Exalted Feminine runs at Adze Gallery until December 23.

Opening hours are 11am to 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday, plus late-night opening to 8pm on Thursdays.

Updated: 16:19 Thursday, November 11, 2004