Beautiful Beverley

David Work paints his hometown of Beverley on his Journal-commissioned tour of the region . . .

Railway Square
Beverley Minster from Chantry Lane
Looking down North Bar Within from The Journal and East Riding Mail offices, with St Mary’s Church on the right
Another of Beverley’s iconic landmarks, the Bar, features prominently in this painting, chosen as this month’s competition prize

Beverley Minster from Chantry Lane

Since David Work began his “Yorkshire painting tour” for The Journal in October of last year, he has completed 15 commissions and hundreds of miles. In 2009 alone, he has travelled as far afield as Grassington, Pickering and Malton, as well as East Yorkshire locations like Hornsea, South Cave and Pocklington.

There’ll be no let-up in 2010 either. Next month’s issue starts in Bishop Burton and later destinations include Walkington, North Ferriby, Scarborough and South Dalton.

So, it only seemed fair to signal a “rest” this month and ask David to paint on his home ground in Beverley!

David, who lives in Mill View (and before that in Seven Corners Lane) took up painting full-time after selling his catering equipment business five years ago. He specialises in watercolours and, weather permitting, paints most days of the year.

Looking down North Bar Within from The Journal and East Riding Mail offices, with St Mary’s Church on the right

Beverley Minster has featured in a number of his works over the years and, not surprisingly, is included among the four paintings featured here, although perhaps from a less common perspective of Chantry Lane.

David always paints from life rather than from sketches of photographs, so he can regularly be seen setting up his easel at locations around the county. It means he enjoys some regular feedback. “People often approach me when I’m painting and I like that,” he says. “There have been lots of lovely comments since the series began in The Journal and it was lovely to see so many people when I held the retrospective exhibition of Journal paintings at the Wolds Village gallery in Bainton in October.

“Beverley, of course, is one of my favourite places to paint and I do hope Journal readers will enjoy these new paintings which I do think captures some of the flavour of what is a truly beautiful place.”