TWO talented Devizes artists have joined forces to use Wiltshire white horses as inspiration for their work.

Painter Joanna May and jeweller Daniel Pike both love the horses that dot the Wiltshire countryside. First Ms May created paintings Star Gazer and Moon Gazer featuring her signature hare and a white horse. Now Mr Pike has turned the Uffington and Hackpen horses into silver necklaces.

Ms May said: "This is the beginning of an ongoing project where we will be completing the nine White Horses around Wiltshire as both necklaces and paintings.

"The next White Horse necklaces to be produced will be the Broad Town Horse to go with my print called the Broad Town Hare."

Ms May runs a gallery called Joanna May Art and Gifts in High Street, Devizes and Mr Pike runs Tundra Jewellers in nearby Old Swan Yard.

On Saturday (5) Ms May will be holding a Christmas opening from 10am to 5pm and offering visitors mulled wine and mince pies to celebrate the first anniversary of her shop. In the run up the Christmas she is also offering 15 per cent off her prints and originals.

She said: "I have had a wonderful first year selling over 60 paintings, drawings and prints but what has surprised me is how the hare never loses its popularity and this year has brought a new celebrity collector in Martin Hughes Games, one of the wildlife presenters of BBC’s Spring Watch."