A not-so simples art exhibition where you can compare the meerkats has been unveiled in Farnham.

A variety of exotic animals recently checked out their ‘pawtraits’ as a miniature art exhibition opened at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).

A meerkat, skunk, armadillo, tortoise, snake and bearded dragon were among the unusual guests at the launch of the Please Don’t Eat the Art exhibition.

The animal life drawings created by third-year UCA animation students were hung in an animal-sized art gallery made to scale for the unusual guests.

Around 100 students took part in an animal life drawing class with the ‘best in show’ selected for the unique exhibition.

The stunning pieces range from black-and-white depictions in charcoal and pencil to sketches in oil, pastel and watercolour.

The exhibition was organised by Harriet Croucher, a lecturer in animation at UCA, is glad none of the special guests ate the pieces.

She said: “I don’t know when else in their lifetime the students would be able to draw animals up close and personal, working on your artwork alongside you.

“We got some well-observed and expressive artworks.

“But we have never welcomed the animals back to see the drawings for themselves – and what better critics?”

The subjects found it hard to pose but students still managed to capture their form on canvas.

Meerkats Arlo and Frodo seemed to be impressed with their ‘pawtraits’ while others seemed to be rather casual about the experience.

The UCA has also previous in the field as guess where the Aleksandr the Meerkat creator studied? No prizes.

One student said: “Being able to draw animals as they are – the texture, colour and markings – helped us capture their personality and their essence.

“And when they started running around and causing chaos, well, that was fun.”