FOR the last three years, Whitby watercolour artist John Freeman has been on a meandering journey along his beloved river Esk, which flows through the Esk Valley and into the sea at Whitby.

The result is a book, A Meander Down the Esk, comprising watercolours and pencil drawings portraying the river in all seasons and moods, and its wildlife, history, and architecture, with supporting text.

The Inspired by… gallery at The Moors National Park Centre, in Danby, is delighted to host an exhibition of pictures from the book to coincide with its launch.

The exhibition A Meander Down the Esk has been sponsored by Northern Rail, which runs passenger services on the Esk Valley line and is this year celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the line between Castleton and Grosmont linking Whitby to Middlesbrough.

Northern Rail’s client and stakeholder manager John O’Grady said: “John is a wonderful artist, and some of the paintings in both the exhibition and the book feature our line and our trains, so it’s a lovely tie-in.

“It also marks the anniversary of the opening of the line, and highlights Northern Rail as the provider of the railway service into Whitby.”

John Freeman came to Whitby in 1969 from Doncaster, where he had studied at Doncaster School of Art and taught for five years, and opened Abbey Galleries, his studio and gallery. Over the last five decades he has created more images of the Whitby area than any other living artist.

His work is mainly in watercolour, with the subject matter drawn from the town and the surrounding villages, farms and moors.

John said: “I find the immediacy of watercolour exciting and stimulating. It enables me to combine my love of detail with broad areas where pigment, paper and water create their own qualities. During my meander down the Esk, I found that the river gave me a wonderful opportunity to enjoy this medium to the full. The movement of the water, contrasting with the bank side structures, offered me the chance to create something very personal, and in this work you see the river through my eyes.”

The book will be launched at the Inspired by… gallery on Saturday, from noon to 3pm, when the exhibition will also be opened by renowned Danby artist Peter Hicks. John Freeman will be on hand to sign copies of the book. More than 100 small framed pencil studies will be available to buy.

Art lovers can also spend an evening with John on Thursday, September 10, from 6.30pm, when he will give an insight into his life as an artist and tell the story behind the book. Tickets are £5, and include a glass of wine.

To book, phone 01439 772737 or email moorscentre@northyorkmoors.org.uk

For more information on John Freeman, go to johnfreemanstudio.co.uk

The Inspired by… gallery at The Moors National Park Centre hosts changing exhibitions of work by artists who draw their inspiration from the landscape, life and colour of the North York Moors. Admission is free, and the gallery is open daily in August from 9.30am to 5.30pm and in September from 10am to 5pm.

For more information on the North York Moors National Park and forthcoming exhibitions and events, go to northyorkmoors.org.uk