Beautiful North Yorkshire

Exhibition depicts the human form

2013-05-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

An Egyptian
ushabti figure on show.

Visitors to Scarborough Art Gallery will see a new display in its reception area looking at representations of the human form over the centuries.

From Wednesday (22 May), small figures chosen by visitor services assistant Dan Whinney will be on display as part of the Cabinet of Curiosities series.

Dan said: “This tiny exhibition invites you to explore how the human form has been represented through the objects of various cultures and civilisations, from Africa and Ancient Egypt to medieval Scarborough . What materials were used, what were they used for and when were they made?”

ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT
Dan’s exhibits include a medieval jug depicting a bearded man, and made in Scarborough some time between the end of the 12th and the middle of the 14th century – Scarborough Ware was enormously important to the local economy at that time.

Other items include a nkisi figure from the Upper Congo, a marble sculpture from Selby Abbey, which was founded in 1069, and an Egyptian ushabti, or tomb figure, dating from between 1900BC to 305BC.

For the past few months, members of Scarborough Museums Trust’s visitor services team have been choosing small items from the Scarborough Collections – the name given to all the museum objects held by the trust on behalf of the borough – to create a mini exhibition in the gallery’s reception area.

Visitor attraction benefits on the cards

2013-05-18T06:00:00.001+01:00

The Castle Museum: one of the attractions
offering free admission to card holders.

Getting a fright at York Dungeon and coming face-to-face with Vikings at the Jorvik Centre for less are among the benefits of a York Card.

The city council is reminding residents that the current card is now available for renewal from for just £3. The card also doubles up as a library card, which allows residents to borrow books, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, large print books and language courses.

Councillor Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “The York card gives residents a chance to try out some of the many great attractions that are on their doorstep for less, with over £30 of savings to be made. This year York Chocolate Story have offered a third off ticket prices on Sundays, adding to the great savings already on offer.

“Residents can even gain free admission to the Castle Museum and the Yorkshire Museum with the card, providing great, free family days out!”

Anyone who would like to apply can do so at any York library. Proof of identity and York residency will be required.

Residents on disability living allowance, carers allowance, housing benefit, council tax support, employment support allowance widowed parents allowance or working tax credit will be able to get the card for free for the first time this year. A letter from the awarding body will be needed.

Work to start on one of the north's biggest luxury hotels

2013-05-18T06:00:00.000+01:00

Artist's impression of the luxury hotel.

Developers are about to start work on the £100m country resort at Flaxby, near Knaresborough,

York-based Skelwith Leisure aims to transform the Flaxby Park golf course into a luxury 300-bedroom hotel and high-profile golf facility covering more than 240,000 square feet. The site was acquired five years ago. It will be one of the biggest hotels in the north and will employ around three hundred people

After negotiations with with the borough and county councils, the Highways Agency and local landowners, work is due to begin on 28 May with the project expected to be completed in 2015.

The development will include a luxury spa and gym, restaurants and bars, boutiques and a conference centre.

Troon Golf will manage the golf course to attract high profile events.

Skelwith Leisure managing director Paul Ellis said the development team would put to use what it had learnt from creating the recently-opened Raithwaite Hall Country Retreat near Whitby.

Top award nomination for Monkbar

2013-05-17T06:30:00.000+01:00

York's Best Western Monkbar Hotel has been nominated in a national competition for its green credentials.

Top team ... with a gold award already under its belt, the Monkbar Hotel green team now has its sights on another national major title.

For the third time in five years, it has been shortlisted in the Considerate Hotelier Awards green team category.

Considerate Hoteliers is a peer-led organisation that encourages fellow hoteliers to adopt sound and sustainable environmentally friendly and socially responsible policies and practices.

Last year, the Monkbar won the Green Business Tourism gold award – the first city-centre hotel to do so – for its continuing efforts in making the hotel as environmentally friendly as possible.

General manager Graham Usher said: “It is hugely rewarding for all the team here at the Monkbar to be shortlisted once again for this important national award.

“Our green policies are extremely important both to us and our customers, and to win this award would be a fantastic addition to our existing environmental accolades.

CARBON FOOTPRINT
“All of the new measures put in place over the last 12 months are working well and reducing our carbon footprint. In addition, it is helping us win government contracts and reduce our overheads.”

Over the last twelve months, the city centre hotel, led by its green team, has implemented a raft of new environmental initiatives including increased recycling, creating a market garden in its enclosed courtyard and installing charging points for electric cars.

It was also the first hotel in Yorkshire to install a Waste2Water filtration system which eats waste food, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.

The awards are being held at the Landmark London Hotel, on Thursday, 6 June.

For peat's sake — restoration project reaches conservation milestone

2013-05-17T06:20:00.000+01:00

Around 100 square miles of the region's precious peatlands have been restored in a multi-million pound project to preserve vital habitats and help cut global warming.

More than 60 per cent of the restoration work has taken place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, home to more blanket bog – the habitat in which peat formed – than any other national park in England.

The Yorkshire Peat Partnership is hailing the achievement as a major milestone because it means nearly a quarter of Yorkshire’s damaged peatlands have been restored and an estimated 29,500 tonnes of the damaging greenhouse gas prevented from being emitted. This is equivalent to the amount of carbon produced annually by 62,000 UK households.

PRECIOUS WILDLIFE
Partnership programme manager Dr Tim Thom said: “Helping to restore more than a quarter of Yorkshire’s peatlands is a significant achievement - not only does it ensure that rare and precious wildlife is protected but safeguards iconic peatland landscapes for us all to enjoy”

The partnership is led by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, funded by Natural England, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and supported by North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority, National Trust, Pennine Prospects, Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, National Farmers’ Union and the Moorland Association.

Dr Thom added: “The knowledge, assistance and expertise of landowners, gamekeepers and farmers have underpinned the successful delivery of every peatland restoration project that we have completed.”

Richard Johnson a landowner in the Yorkshire Dales whose advice and cooperation will lead to the restoration of 435 ha of peatland said: “Working with organisations to deliver restoration can be a challenge but with cooperation, communication and often compromise the best outcome can be achieved for both Yorkshire’s peatlands and also for those who work and derive their livelihood from the moorland areas with resulting benefits for the local economy”.

The partnership will continue its efforts to restore some of the remaining damaged blanket bog in the region.

Major route gets a spring clean

2013-05-17T06:00:00.002+01:00

Tyre-ing ... a council worker examines some of the rubbish collected after Hambleton District Council's spring clean along the A19 between Thirsk and York. In just four hours, they collected more than 200 black sacks of rubbish as well as televisions, a bed, a pram, 13 tyres, a car bumper, lead roofing felt, two traffic signs, two cones, two exhaust pipe systems and four barriers.

Onyx brings a touch of brass

2013-05-16T07:00:00.000+01:00

One of Britain's most acclaimed brass ensembles will be at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre on 13 June.

As bold as brass ... Onyx Brass.

Onyx Brass’s playing has been described as ‘some of the most thrilling chamber brass-playing of its kind’ by Gramophone Magazine and the group’s serious yet approachable programmes, and musical and technical virtuosity, have led them to dominate the international brass chamber music scene for the last 18 years.

The programme takes audiences on an eclectic tour of the countries and composers who have contributed to the rich history of brass ensemble music over the centuries. It is rooted in the Renaissance but also features great fugues as well as more modern European pieces, including three new pieces.

Outside of the ensemble, members all hold positions in leading UK orchestras including The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of English National Opera, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Further information: www.sjt.uk.com

Peregrine chicks cause a sensation

2013-05-16T06:30:00.001+01:00

Three special chicks are proving to be a draw since hatching at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Visitors to the stunning site can enjoy views of the new arrivals and the rest of the peregrine family through high-powered telescopes at a special, free viewpoint set up each year by the RSPB and the national park authority.

Thousands of people have already visited the site this year to watch the daily adventures of the birds of prey since the viewpoint, which is now in its eleventh year, was opened in March.

National park wildlife conservation officer Ian Court said: “Now the chicks have hatched, the peregrine activity will increase over the coming weeks. The adult male will be hunting to feed his young family and once the chicks do not need as much protection, the adult female will soon be doing the same.

“When the peregrines are hunting and feeding, it’s a great time for people to visit the site as there will be plenty of excellent opportunities to see these incredible birds.”

SPECTACLE
Peregrines have recorded speeds of more than 200 miles an hour – about three times as fast as a cheetah – and watching them hunt is a wildlife spectacle not to be missed.

Ella Dixon, of the RSPB, said: “Peregrines catch their prey in high-speed aerial stoops, which are impressive to watch.

“Peregrines started nesting at the cove 20 years ago and since then they have raised more than 40 young, so it’s great to see this continue with the latest arrivals. We hope as many people as possible take up the opportunity to see the peregrines in the flesh.”

The peregrine watch viewpoint will be open until July 31 and is run by staff and volunteers from both organisations from Saturdays to Wednesday weather permitting.

More information about the Malham Peregrines can be found at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/peregrines

Tree health survey launched

2013-05-16T06:30:00.000+01:00

A major survey into the health of the region's trees will be officially launched today Thursday (16 May) at a York nature reserve.

Volunteers are joining community scientists at the St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve to learn how to monitor trees for pests and diseases.

The regional launch event organised by scientists based in the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York is part of a national Tree Health Survey.

Volunteers will be looking out for common pests and diseases of Ash, Oak and Horse Chestnut, like Oak and Ash decline, Bleeding canker of the Horse chestnut and Nectria canker of the Ash.

PICTURE OF TREE HEALTH
The survey, designed in collaboration with Forest Research and the Food and Environment Research Agency includes activities such as identifying tree species, measuring height and examining trees for signs of poor health. Any tree can be surveyed and all of the information submitted will help scientists build up a picture of tree health across the UK.

After Thursday's launch, the trained volunteers will share their knowledge with visitors to St Nicholas Fields and also take part in a drop-in nature counts event on 17 and 18 May. Run by the Friends of St Nicholas Fields, the aim of the event is to see how many different species can be recorded on the nature reserve during the two days.

Further informaiton about the survey is available at www.opalexplorenature.org/treesurvey

World War Two memorial chapel opens for three special visitor days

2013-05-15T07:00:00.001+01:00

North Yorkshire's tiny Scotch Corner Chapel and its unusual sculptures will be open to the public on three visitor days this year.

The chapel ... a memorial to those who fought during World War Two.
Photo by Tessa Bunney.

It was built by local man and Ampleforth College master John Bunting near the village of Oldstead in the North York Moors National Park as a war memorial to those who died in World War Two, in particular, former Ampleforth College pupils.

The remote chapel will be open for the public to see inside on Saturday 18 May, Saturday 20 July and Saturday 14 September this year.

Recumbent soldier.
Photo by Tessa Bunney.

Bunting acquired the land on which the building sits in 1956. It is built on the ruins of an old farmstead, though the history of the plot goes back much further – the Battle of Byland between the English and the Scots took place here in 1322 and there are two Bronze Age burial mounds nearby.

COMMANDO BOOTS
The chapel is now managed by the Bunting family for the public benefit and is home to many of John Bunting’s sculptural works including a stone sculpture of a recumbent solider in paratrooper’s helmet and commando boots.

The national park authority has been working with the Bunting family for the past few years to provide opportunities to see inside and talk to John Bunting’s descendants.

Jennifer Smith, from the national park authority, said: “We have been holding open days for around four years now and people’s intrigue about the chapel and the work of John Bunting is as strong as ever.

"The chapel makes a great place to stop off on several good walks and bike rides in the area.”

LIFELONG ATTACHMENT
Interest in the building grew significantly in 2010 when The Plot was published. The book written by daughter of John Bunting and Guardian journalist Madeleine Bunting explores the history of the area and her father’s lifelong attachment to the chapel.

There is no need to book and people can come along anytime between 12pm and 4pm. Directions can be obtained from Sutton Bank National Park Centre. The chapel is located at Grid Reference SE 526, 814. There is no vehicular access and it is a 20 minute walk to the nearest parking.

Museum ploughs on with tractor rally

2013-05-15T06:20:00.000+01:00

Fans of tractors are in for a treat at a York museum this weekend (18 and 19 May)

The Yorkshire Museum of Farming is playing host again to the Friends of Ferguson Heritage annual rally.

Visitors can expect to around 50 tractors and more than 40 engines over the two days. On Saturday at 4pm members will take part in a tractor road-run.

Latest park and ride work under way

2013-05-15T06:00:00.001+01:00

Councillor Dave Merrett, City of York cabinet member, and Phil Morgan, Balfour Beatty operations director, at the start of work building park and ride facilities at Poppleton Bar and enlarging those at Askham Bar to make it much easier for visitors and residents to get in and out of the city. The £22m project will be completed in May, next year. Councillor Merrit described the occasion as a pivotal moment for the city, marking one of the largest single investments in its transport infrastructure.

Visitor attraction gets sculpture trail

2013-05-14T07:00:00.000+01:00

The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes is adding an outdoor sculpture trail in time for summer

A visitor checks a QR code on the trail.

Featuring the artwork of Yorkshire craftspeople, the Hidden Secrets Sculpture Trail will allow visitors of all ages to explore and appreciate the area’s wildlife, culture, landscape and built heritage.

It will also highlight contemporary trades, sites and businesses that link with those that have a history within the Dales.

WHEELCHAIR AND PUSHCHAIR FRIENDLY
Part of the site of the museum, which is owned by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, has been landscaped and made wheelchair and pushchair friendly and a range of information points interpret the history of the area from prehistoric times onwards. The different themes are interpreted by QR codes that can be read on smart phones and also in a leaflet.

A white inkwell hidden in a wall. Photos courtesy
of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Families can also go on an inkwell treasure hunt. There are 26 inkwells created by artist Anna Whitehouse that can be found along the trail. Anna hopes children will come up with their own stories about how the inkwells might got to their resting place.

The trail will be officially opened on the afternoon of 23 May when visitors can have free entry to the museum and the outdoor trail until 7pm.

Museum manager Fiona Rosher said: “The trail is buggy and wheelchair friendly and we hope it will attract new visitors, particularly families and groups, as well as being an added incentive for regulars to come along and explore something new.

“We are hoping to add more sculptures in the future with further community involvement.”

At the opening, poet and creative writer Char March will be reading poems inspired by the heritage of the Yorkshire Dales. Char worked with the local community on this project. And Richard Law from Flying Shavings will be completing and installing his storytelling chair. Light refreshments will be available.

Local school children and residents of Sycamore Hall have contributed to the project, which has been funded by Defra and EU money and the Friends of the Museum.

Revival of Ayckbourn's Time of My Life

2013-05-14T06:30:00.000+01:00

Alan Ayckbourn at the first read-through of Time of My Life with Stephen Joseph Theatre Company cast members. The play, which runs from 6 June to 4 October, was first seen at the theatre in its former home in Westwood in 1992 before being presented in the West End a year later.

Ayckbourn said: “This is one of my very JB Priestley-esque plays. It deals with time and is very much about living for the moment: how we sometimes fail to realise where we are in our lives – if only we had stopped and just looked around for a moment.”

Time of My Life's revival is the first of three Ayckbourns at the SJT this summer. The world premieres of Arrivals & Departures can be seen on various dates from 1 August to 6 October, and Farcicals — two short, one-act, linked pieces: The Kidderminster Affair and Chloë With Love — can be seen on dates from 30 August to 4 October. Further information: www.sjt.uk.com

Free travel is just the ticket for heritage railway's charity effort

2013-05-14T06:00:00.000+01:00

Travel on trains on the Wensleydale Railway this Saturday (18 May) will be free as the visitor attraction joins efforts to raise money for a local charity.

The railway team will be collecting for the Fraja Ellie Appeal which aims to increase the chances of a five-year-old girl's chances of surviving a rare cancer.

General manager Nigel Park said; ‘We are very happy to support this appeal, and particularly in view of the tremendous support we have had from the community towards the repair costs of our recent landslip.

"It’s good to be able to support a very worthy local cause. The owners of the locomotives in use on the day have also agreed to waive their hire charges, and the company will cover other operating costs, so that we can put the maximum amount towards the day’s total."

There will be three departures from Leeming Bar on the day, the 10am and 3pm are planned to be steam hauled by Class J72 no. 69023 courtesy of the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group, and the 12 noon service is planned to be diesel hauled by Class 14 no. 9516, courtesy of Mr Tim Williamson.

Wensleydale Railway staff will be giving their time free of charge, and volunteers and representatives of the appeal will be on hand to receive donations and help with the running of the event.

On yer bike! University issues cycle ride invitation to community

2013-05-13T06:30:00.000+01:00

Saddle up ... the ride is being
staged on 2 June.

Students, staff, alumni and the community are taking part in the York@50 bike rides on 2 June to help to mark the 50th anniversary of the University of York.

Organised jointly by the university and its students’ union, the event will raise money for an anniversary fund-raising campaign, Project Snowball which will renovate the Snowball Plantation, an outdoor activity centre for young people in Stockton on the Forest.

Many cyclists have signed up but organisers say more are welcome.

The ride will start and finish at York Sport Village and participants can choose to cycle 52 or 25 miles. For younger riders there is a York@50 Family Ride on the new traffic-free one kilometre-fixed circuit at the sport village.

Further information: www.yorkspace.net/york50.

Exploration of Victorians in mourning

2013-05-13T06:00:00.000+01:00

The Victorians in mourning is the main focus of the next tour of Scarborough Museums Trust's collection store on Tuesday 28 May.

Trust assistant operations manager Julie Baxter will explore mourning protocol before and after the death of Prince Albert, Consort to Queen Victoria, who died in 1861.

Julie said: “We’ll be looking at objects, accessories and clothing relating to the period from about 1860 to about 1890.

CULT OF DEATH
The cult of death which we associate with the Victorians was very much a phenomenon of that later Victorian period, when Queen Victoria went into mourning for her husband.”

The Scarborough Collections is the name given to all the items accumulated by the borough over the years, now in the care of the trust. Since it’s not possible to have all the thousands of items in the collections on display at any one time, the public are invited view them by joining one of the regular and popular store tours.

The tours take place on the last Tuesday of each month, and last around an hour. Participants are asked to meet at Scarborough Art Gallery at 2pm before heading next door to Woodend Creative Workspace, where the collections are housed in modern storage facilities in the basement.

Places on the tour cost £2 each, and are limited, so organisers recommend booking. For further information, call the gallery on 01723 374753.

Top travel writer competition will put York in the spotlight

2013-05-11T07:00:00.001+01:00

York has been selected as one of three UK cities to host the finals of an international campaign to find the ultimate travel reporter.

Apt setting: York is one of the cities that will host the travel writer finals.

Organised by online travel guide My Destination, the initiative, dubbed the Biggest Baddest Bucket List, offers a six-month all expenses paid reporter’s trip around the world as well as approximately £32,500 lump sum for the winner.

With other challenges taking place in Bristol and London, the York event features the top ten finalists from California and New York, USA; Ontario, Ottowa and Montréal, Canada; Goiânia, Brazil; Melbourne, Australia; Cape Town, South Africa; and two from Lisbon, who will participate in a series of challenges and activities provided by local businesses in the city on 20 and 21 May.

Entries were judged based on a blog post and an original three minute video in which they shared their local insights and tips for their favourite destination.

The competition attracted over 1250 entries from 640 destinations in 110 countries, including a submission from Jess Gibson of York.

Elaine Aldous, managing director of My Destination York, says “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase York and its local businesses to a global audience who will be following these finalists throughout their journey to the final”

Joe's stunning view among works celebrating legacy of national parks

2013-05-11T06:00:00.000+01:00

Joe Cornish's beautiful wintry image of Roseberry Topping is among the stunning photographs that make up an exhibition organised by the North York Moors National Park now on display at York Teaching Hospital. The exhibition features work by some of the country's best landscape photographers and has been organised to celebrate the legacy of Britain's national parks. Joe said: “The North York Moors is now the foundation of my work, the quiet background that keeps me close to nature. It is not fashionable, or flashy, or even easy to photograph. Rather, it is subtly beautiful, peaceful, spacious and never the same two days (or even hours) in a row. It is the essence of an English national park.”

Swashbuckling epic at the Georgian

2013-05-10T06:00:00.002+01:00

Deception, escape and a thirst for retribution collide in the swashbuckling epic The Count of Monte Cristo which is performed at Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal on Thursday 16 May. The production comes courtesy of Thunder Road, in association with Harrogate Theatre.

Poet not a-verse to night at the museum

2013-05-10T06:00:00.001+01:00

Poet Jo Reed will read a section of her poem A Soho Sequence called St Anne’s Parish, which remembers people and places in the sixties when she joins the line-up at Scarborough Art Gallery for Museums at Night on Friday 17 May

She said:: “One of the poems is about Harry Diamond, who became a photographer, but was better known for being painted twice by Lucien Freud. And I knew Jeffrey Bernard before he became unwell!”

The reading will start at 7pm, and will be followed by a short Q&A session. The event coincides with the current gallery exhibition, Halfway to Paradise, which features photographs of British musicians from the 50s and 60s by Harry Hammond.

Later that evening, from 8pm, teams from Scarborough Art Gallery and Crescent Arts will aim to resolve the age-old debate over realist v conceptualist art once and for all – by slugging it out in the boxing ring.

Meanwhile, at the Rotunda, visitors can see night-themed exhibits from the Scarborough Collections, including creatures of the night from the taxidermy collection and Victorian nightwear.

Both Scarborough Art Gallery and the Rotunda museum will open from 6pm-9pm for the Museums at Night event.

Just for the record: history comes to life in Museums at Night initiative

2013-05-10T06:00:00.000+01:00

North Yorkshire County Council's record office throws open its doors next week to bring history to life as part of the Museums at Night programme.

The office will be open from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Thursday (16 May) for a light-hearted, interactive evening in which members of the public will be able to explore behind the scenes in the archives.

Highlights include costume historian Meridith Towne's Romance in the Raj, a journey of Edwardian and twenties fashion, Viscount Fairfax and his housemaid showing the original receipts and vouchers detailing the lavish expense required to maintain York's Georgian town house Fairfax House and Ripon Museums Trust's Matron and inmates opening a workhouse for the evening.

Other histories will be brought to life throughout the building using records from the collections, providing something for all ages.

The event is free and refreshments will be provided. Car parking is available in the doctor’s surgery next door.

Heritage skills training in Nidderdale

2013-05-09T07:00:00.000+01:00

Going to the wall: locals are encouraged
to use heritage skills to maintain the landscape.

Fancy a go at using lime mortar or trying your hand at dry stone walling? If so, Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty's heritage skills training has the answer.

The skills training events have been organised to encourage people to use traditional skills to help maintain the landscape of the area.

Alan Gardener, a chartered surveyor specialising in historic buildings, will lead lime mortar training on Tuesday 28 May. Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 May will offer the opportunity for participants to put into practice what they have learnt.

A dry stone walling training day will be held on Wednesday 5 June, starting with a classroom session looking at the history of the practice, some of the features, and the theory behind the skill. This will be followed by a hands-on session with the Nidderdale AONB Walling Group.

Full details are available from heritage officer Sally Childes on 01423 712950 or by emailing sally.childes@harrogate.gov.uk

Wooed by the celebrity culture at SJT

2013-05-09T06:30:00.000+01:00

A modern love story full of betrayal, deceit and a bit of boy band action is how to describe Totally Over You which comes to Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre on Thursday and Friday 23 and 24 May courtesy of the 12-14-year-old SJT Youth Theatre Rounders group.

The story begins with Kitty, Roch, Hanna and Sinita who dream of being famous and ditch their boyfriends who are holding them back. When the boys catch wind of this, they hatch their own plan to get their wannabe exes back.

Written by Mark Ravenhill, originally for National Theatre Connections, and influenced by Moliere’s Les Precieuces Ridicules, Totally Over You tells the story of four teenagers wooed by celebrity culture. Further details: www.sjt.uk.com.

County gets to art of the matter as studios open doors in diverse settings

2013-05-08T07:00:00.000+01:00

Between a rock and an art place:
Janet Yeun Yau at Birmham Rocks.

More than a hundred artists are getting set to throw open the doors to their studios as part of a county-wide initiative next month that promises culture and breathtaking views.

Now into its ninth year, the North Yorkshire Open Studios, initiative on the weekends of 8/9 June and 15/16 June, will enable art lovers to explore the region and discover original artwork from cutting edge craft and design to contemporary sculpture, paintings and ceramics.

Studios taking part are located right across the county, from the remote hills of the Upper Dales to the suburban streets of Harrogate, across the Vale of York to the rural North Yorks Moors and Coast.

This year’s new faces include sculptor Joseph Hayton, a trained stonemason who has worked on many prestigious projects from stone carving for stately homes to ecclesiastical restoration and who will be opening up his Pateley Bridge workshop.

Meanwhile, there will be the opportunity to find out more about Victorian photographic techniques by visiting artists David and Angela Chalmers on Scarborough's Esplanade or to see the remote Swaledale studio of Rachel Anthill whose series of luminous landscapes are inspired by her recent trip to the Himalayas,

Event director Rick Faulkner, from Chrysalis Arts, said: “We are blessed with a range of inspiring landscapes in North Yorkshire, which help make our Open Studios one of the most spectacular open studio events in the country.

"This event offers a unique opportunity for the public to meet individual artists in a diverse range of studios and settings, to gain an insight into how their work is produced, what inspires them and to buy high quality art and craft directly from them."

Full artist details and pictures are included in the free event guide, available from the organisers by emailing info@nyos.org.uk or can be browsed online at http://www.nyos.org.uk.