COLOURFUL tapestries are taking centre-stage at National Trust property in Ryedale.

The Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope (2015), created by artist Grayson Perry, are on display at Nunnington Hall until December 20.

Replacing the hall’s 17th century Verdure tapestries, which are currently away for conservation work, the Essex House Tapestries tell the story of fictitious Essex “everywoman” Julie Cope - illustrating the key events in the heroine’s journey from her birth during the Canvey Island floods of 1953 to her untimely death on a Colchester street.

“The genuine and relatable stories told through Grayson Perry’s artworks are a rich contrast to the demonstration of wealth and status reflected through many historic tapestries including our own at Nunnington Hall,” said Laura Kennedy, the visitor experience manager.

“We have worked closely with the Crafts Council to bring the hangings to Nunnington and observe how these contrasting sets of tapestries are a beautiful contradiction in design, colour palette, storytelling and manufacture, illustrating the evolution of tapestries over the past four hundred years.”

The tapestries represent, in Grayson Perry’s words, “the trials, tribulations, celebrations and mistakes of an average life”.

To write Julie’s biography, Grayson took inspiration from English ballads and folk-tale traditions.

Jonathan Wallis, curator for the National Trust, said: “It is great to be able to show these wonderful tapestries at Nunnington - it continues our aim of bringing thought provoking art to rural Yorkshire.”

Nunnington Hall is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.30am to 4pm.