THE Bowes Museum, at Barnard Castle, will be the first to show an exclusive UK exhibition, Jonathan Yeo: Skin Deep, this spring.

The British artist is acclaimed for depictions of public figures including Dennis Hopper, Nicole Kidman, Cara Delevingne, Damien Hirst, Malala Yousafzai, Tony Blair and members of the Royal family among others.

Alongside portraiture, he has explored conceptual themes in his Surgery Series, depicting in oil paint the intricacies and complex issues surrounding cosmetic surgery and the quest for physical perfection.

Skin Deep, which opens in March, will be the first extensive survey of the Surgery Series and will include well known and acclaimed works as well as recent oil paintings charting the latest developments in aesthetic enhancement.

Drawing on a long-held fascination with physiognomy and notions of human identity, Yeo says: “Rather than shock tactics, I’m looking at the way we feel about subversive images of beauty, as the topic of plastic surgery is so subtle and nuanced, touching our ideals of beauty and body image as well as the complex psychology behind it.”

The exhibition runs from March 10 until June 17 with accompanying events for audiences to explore the wider issue of body image and its consequences for health and wellbeing.

For more information visit thebowesmuseum.org.uk