An art exhibition is exploring the hidden beauty and ecological importance of ancient woodlands.
The show is currently on display at the Allen Gallery on Church Street in Alton and runs until September 20.
The exhibition features the work of Mary Waltham and Jackie Amies, two artists and keen walkers who share a passion for the natural environment.
Mary said: "While each of our art practices continues to develop in appreciation of and response to a variety of habitats close at hand in Hampshire - downlands, wetlands, rivers and chalk streams, for example - why have we chosen ancient woodland for this, our first exhibition together?
"Despite best efforts to support and encourage these woodlands to thrive, they are consistently under pressure for development and, of course, from continuing assaults by a range of rapidly evolving tree diseases - such as ash dieback - that are further enabled by a warmer climate year-round.
"We set out to explore and raise awareness of the many dimensions of beauty of ancient woodland from our own perspectives."
(Image: Seamus Flanagan)
Ancient woodland covers just 2.5 per cent of the UK and is defined as land continuously wooded since at least 1600.
These areas are rich in biodiversity and history, often containing archaeological remnants and supporting rare species.
The exhibition takes a multi-sensory approach, featuring paintings, fine-art prints, and photography.
Many of the works use unconventional materials and techniques, including paintings made with soil, bark etchings, and a woodland soundscape.
Jackie's contribution includes a series of 12 monoprints of ancient woodland leaves titled Foliate, exploring the identification of trees through their foliage.
She also presents Barked, a set of bark etchings layered over coloured lino prints, and Rooted, a series of monotypes inspired by a year of walking in Ashford Hanger.
Mary's primary medium for the exhibition is painting, with six pieces in the Ground series created using soil and ash as pigment.
These works explore the colours and textures of ancient woodland soil.
She is also showing eight watercolour paintings of spring flowers commonly found in ancient woods.
A large-scale map inside the gallery highlights local sites that inspired the artwork, including Ashford Hanger and Selborne.
Outside, visitors can view an installation of decaying wood and leaf litter, referencing Mark Dion's Neukom Vivarium and inviting close observation of the life sustained by decay.
In the gallery café, a collection of 40 photographs taken by the artists serves as "a celebration of place" and encourages visitors to explore ancient woodlands for themselves.