TANTALISE your imagination by visiting an exhibition of small drawings of creatures and characters, along with collections of curiosities and writings in Jill Carter’s new exhibition, Northern Crow.

Jill Carter, artist in residence at Swindon’s Richard Jefferies Museum, responds to the works of Jefferies, transforming old books into contemporary visual musings and poetic nonsense.

Inspired by creatures depicted in Jefferies’ book Wood Magic, everyday events in the environs of museum, together with real and playfully imagined happenings, around 20 pieces make up the exhibition.

“I was looking at the text in the book Wood Magic and I saw the phrase northern crown - and I read it as northern crow,” Jill explained. “And there were so many jackdaws and blackbirds and rooks and crows in the garden - I started noticing the birds.”

She says she started drawing into her copy of Wood Magic, altering and recreating pages in the book.

“I picked out words I found interesting and responded to them in a new way.

“Visitors came in, and commented, and I took that as inspiration too.”

The pictures are mainly created in inks, with some stitching. The exhibition opened at the beginning of May and Jill has been engaging with visitors at the museum over the course of the month.

The exhibition also includes other textile pieces on a similar theme of what Jill describes as mythological, mysterious nonsense.

“People love the ink drawings,” Jill said. “Half creature, half person - it captures people’s imaginations.”

You have until May 26 to see Northern Crow. The installation of artworks is open during museum opening hours.

The Weird, Wild & Wonderful, Art Club takes place at the museum on Saturday morning, for children aged eight and above, from 11am to 2.15pm, costing £8. The club encourages drawing, making, imagining and discovering creatures and characters - and this week the theme is inspired by “We’re not invited to the wedding”! Book at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

You can see Northern Crow on Sunday from 1pm to 5pm when the museum is open for its regular culture and cream tea slot, with an open mic for poetry, comedy and acoustic music. Entrance is free.

You can also meet contemporary, award winning multi-media artist Jill Carter on Tuesday at the museum from 10am till 12 noon.