Red kites swooping over Fillington Farm, at Piddington, near High Wycombe, suggest an avian theme for Art of Africa (until Sunday) at Fillington Farm, Piddington. Gemma Orkin’s elegant, handmade ceramic bowl boasts a long-tailed Sugar Bird, the pen and ink lines suggest feathers while its maroon coloured claws clasp a spiky branch. Also from the Cape, Sonya Moore’s serene hand-thrown platter Bird on a Wire displays her signature design, a bird etched out of the delicate celadon glaze.

Hailing from Zimbabwe Royal Katiyo’s sculpture Calling Quail Conference has eight charming, chunky birds made of springstone. Huddled together on the lawn their highly polished black eyes and beaks look up in eager anticipation. Helen Vaughan makes delicate Nest Eggs; each bird-feeder is whitewashed raw clay that is then scratched giving a branch-like effect.

Known for his scrap metal sculpture Arthur Azevedos captures, with a few black ink strokes, the essence of an ‘Ostrich’ with attitude; his huge flat feet point outwards poised for an ungainly run. The echo-friendly Boneface Chikwenhere finds pieces of driftwood that suggest the character of a bird; with recycled metal legs and feet; his plucky Water Dikkop, that often nests in the shadow of a crocodile, has an alert, wary appearance.

From birds to people Nadia Kisseleva’s two Xhosa Women (above) reflect serenity and wisdom attributed to the elderly in Africa. Theresa Jo and CP see their cutlery as combining “the rough with the smooth”; their large silky silverplated Fish Slice has a tail holder crafted of brass inlaid with copper.

Traditional bead work is transformed into high fashion by crafts women working in a non-profit organisation, Iziko lo Kwazi, in Hout Bay. The gold and pewter collar and the multiple strings of beads in muted shades of sand and beige taupe are evidence of the high standard of work that is present everywhere in this exciting exhibition.

Open 10am to 5pm daily.