TWO statues of Adam and Eve form the centrepiece of a new exhibition by Cotswold artist Tom Lal which is being staged at Broadway's Anderson Gallery.

The naked figures, cast in plaster from an original stone sculpture, can be seen gazing out of the windows of the High Street gallery.

The casts are typical of Tom's powerful figurative style. The old testament couple also feature in another of his exhibits, this time captured in an embrace in cherry wood.

The exhibition features nine pieces of sculpture including three cold-case bronze studies of the torso and prayer.

Tom, who lives in Stow-on-the-Wold, is also an accomplished painter and the exhibition features four of his oil paintings - one of which is a homage to Cezanne.

In his early days as an artist, Tom's sculptural style was influenced by African and Indian traditions, but more recently he has concentrated on contemporary styles.

French impressionism and German expressionism influence his painting style, and his passion is to experiment with oil, watercolour and mixed media.

"I don't like to stick to one medium. I like to experiment, especially with colour," he said.

Tom has exhibited widely, and has had work commissioned by rock legend John Entwistle of The Who and the former Labour minister Lord Orme.

He was born in India where he studied at Punjab University before moving to the UK in the late 1950's. He moved from London to the Cotswolds in the 1970's to teach art and crafts at a school for children with behavioural difficulties. Now retired, he works as an artist and has a studio on a farm near Stow.

The Christmas exhibition runs until January.