TWO Yorkshire artists are hoping to change the course of contemporary art with a Huddersfield exhibition.

Stone carver Wayne Markwort, from Holmfirth, and Huddersfield artist John Coombes are staging an exhibition at Bates Mill, on Colne Road, from November 17 to 22.

It will feature sculpture, paintings in oils, film presentations and large installation pieces by both artists.

They decided to run the exhibition alongside Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, as a fringe event.

The exhibition is entitled Maximalism - a term coined by the two artists to describe art that `appeals to the senses through passion, profusion and excess'.

They believe that artists should be able to work in a variety of media without being pigeon-holed and that all work should be an intense, emotional experience for the artist.

Maximalism is part of Narrative Expressionism, a movement started by Markwort and Coombes.

It is all about having a story and passion in contemporary art, rather than extreme conceptualism.

Manchester-born Coombes, 51, graduated from Liverpool College of Art with a first class degree in art and design.

Since then, he has worked in many media - from oil paints to steel sculpture, charcoal drawing and film.

He has illustrated books, designed TV show games and created many oil paintings featuring nudes, circus performers and dancers from the Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and the Northern Ballet Theatre.

He is also a photographer, concentrating on the human form.

Markwort, 34, was born in London but moved north to attend Leeds Metropolitan University. He graduated in 1997 with a degree in fine art.

He focused on public art, training in letter carving and since 1999, he has created several public works.

The biggest, entitled Shieldman, is a 4m tall figure in stone and steel, situated in Sheffield city centre.

He has created public sculptures in Belgium, Mexico and Luxembourg. He has exhibited in Japan and his work is usually inspired by mythology.

Visit www.johncoombes.com

or www.waynemarkwort.com.