AN EXHIBITION of sculpture by Nik Burns now showing at the Silk Top Hat Gallery until May 21.

Nik Burns specialises in reclaiming artefacts forged by skilled engineers of the past and creating original new designs. The pieces are created using a wide range of processes including forging, turning and carving.

He says, 'The combination of nature with machine is central to my practice and offers a common theme throughout my work… I have amassed a collection of old machinery and tools which I love due to its high quality; it often has an aesthetic that inspires my practice. There are boxes of bits of copper and brass, broken machine parts and oddities, things I have collected obscure every available space.'

'I use reclaimed items as starting points and it can add an element of familiarity for the viewer and often create a conversation. I frequent flea markets, auctions, car boot sales and browse the Internet to find unusual items. It could be an old car part that is now a fish's fin or an old garden sprayer that is now a bezel for a light fitting. On occasion I will drastically alter the reclaimed item and blend it with a section I have created; in these cases their use is not so apparent.'

'Inspiration is also drawn from the worlds of early science fiction and the industrious Victorian period.' The work is heavily influenced by the Steampunk genre as well as the works of Jules Verne and H G Wells. The pieces range from the very small to the remarkably huge which sometimes need a forklift to move them.

Also on view is watch piece jewellery by Julie Robertson and an exhibition of paintings by Jenny Jones.

Julie Robertson recycles and reworks antique, vintage and modern watch and clock parts to create striking and original pieces of wearable art. From classical elegance to fantastical forms, the intricate work covers a wide range of styles, for both men and women. Unique and original, these intricate works combine traditional horological materials with a contemporary jewellery approach. They are modern day curiosities evocative of a bygone age.

She says, 'Creating each piece involves a careful selection of materials, designing as I make, refining, collaging and layering through several stages to completion.'