Artists reveal passionate relationship with North York Moors (From Gazette & Herald)

Your Place, Inspired by… Gallery, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby, July 21 to August 19

11:30am Wednesday 18th July 2012 in What's on By Natalya Wilson

SIXTY artists will be revealing their creative passion for the North York Moors at a new exhibition opening on Saturday.

The exhibition entitled Your Place takes place at the Inspired by… Gallery at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby, and will feature a wide variety of artwork from painting and pottery to photography and prints, all of which draw on the landscape, wildlife or just the atmosphere of the North York Moors.

Among the work on show will be graphic photography by Graham Chaddock, landscape paintings by Neil Mcbride, paper cut artwork by Kimberli Werner and abstract paintings by Sally Lister.

Graham Chaddock is based at Ruswarp and has recently taught photography at Scarborough Sixth Form College. He is currently teaching part-time in art at Whitby Community College.

“Having moved to the Esk valley some 11 years ago, I am continually inspired by the visual diversity of the area,” he said. “The pastoral elements are abundant but the industrial heritage, like the bridges, are less observed.”

Les Monaghan is an artist and photographer. His photographs follow the activities of RAF pilots and aircrew on survival training on the North York Moors.

He said: “My dad served in the RAF for 24 years. Despite my consequent immersion in forces culture, its hierarchy and traditions did not prompt me to follow him. This ‘refusal’ is the heart of my work.

From the forest combines fiction with documentary. I worked with RAF pilots and aircrew as they undertook survival training on the North York Moors.”

Following a successful 30-year career in design and advertising, Neil Mcbride established himself as a painter in North Yorkshire only six years ago.

He said: “It is more than 40 years since my first visit (to the North York Moors). Now it is a big part of my life on a daily basis: an inspiration in my art and a source of pleasure, particularly the drives across the moors to the coast.”

The North York Moors and coastline are a constant source of inspiration to Rachel Woods in her work as an artist.

She said: “I grew up in Danby and regularly return to the moors to spend time with family and friends and to be out on the moor or down at the coast painting and drawing.”

Kimberli Werner is a self-taught papercut artist who has been exploring the medium and its potential for the past few years. She is an ex-pat American, now living in Thirlby, near Thirsk .

She said: “The North York Moors National Park appeals to my peaceful and magical sense of wonderment. If you are rejuvenated by the outdoors as I am, you could find everything you would ever want here – blue sea, open skies, purple heather, ancient trees, worn paths, curious plants and animals, and incredible views.”

Sally Lister, a fine arts graduate, has just inherited the family sheep farming business where her husband was born and brought up.

She said: “I love the combination of farm and art and revel in the beautiful landscape of the North Yorkshire Moors and its proximity to our wonderful coastline. I am very pleased to be exhibiting at Danby Moors Centre as part of its 60th anniversary.”

Angela Summerfield’s aim is to make Roseberry Topping, and its surroundings, as famous as Cezanne’s images of Mount St Victoire and Provence.

She said: “Our family ‘National Park Sundays’ were always full of the expectation of new experiences and discoveries, summer picnics, walks through woodlands and across the moors, a race up Roseberry Topping, or the thrilling over-the-moors railway journey to Whitby.

For a young artist, the scale, shifting light and colours had a profound effect and made me decide to be a landscape painter.”

The exhibition continues the celebrations surrounding the 60th anniversary of the North York Moors National Park and has been supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Your Place runs until Sunday, August 19. For details, visit www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/inspiredbygallery