Glittery hooves, 3-D cubes and colourful rhinestones feature among the daring nail designs on show at London’s first ever nail art exhibition, Nailphilia.

With the likes of Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Beyonce flaunting ever-more bold and original talons, the nail business has never been so big. Now, DegreeArt.com’s East London gallery is showcasing creations from the biggest names in the nail business, including manicurist Mike Pocock, technician Jenny Longworth, and internationally renowned nail guru Marian Newman.

Sue Marsh, one of the first nail technicians in the industry, has also lent archived designs from the runways of London Fashion Week to the exhibition, as well as nails she created for PJ Harvey, Boy George and the Spice Girls.

Curator Ryan Lanji said, "The work takes hours, even days to complete and nails as fascinating as these are only possible due to the patience and passion in the subject matter."

"I think the art world needed this burst of originality to show that a new wave of art can come from fresh talent, and often in the most overlooked sectors."

The exhibition can be viewed at 12A Vyner St, London E2 9DG and runs until Sunday 25th September.

Take a look at our pick of some of the most extravagant nail art on display at the exhibition below.

Fierce fingernails