Yorkshire’s favourite living artist, David Hockney, is very much in the news of late. Hockney, born in Bradford and educated in that city and at the Royal College of Art in London is now resident in Bridlington on the Yorkshire coast.
This year he has been honoured with a (literally) huge exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London called “David Hockney, RA: A Bigger Picture”. The exhibition spans 50 years and features large-scale paintings which were inspired by the landscape of East Yorkshire – one of Yorkshire’s many jewels, but lesser known perhaps than the North York Moors or the Yorkshire Dales. It also includes works involving the Yorkshire coast and Saltaire in Bradford (where Hockney has a permanent exhibition in the Salts Mill Gallery).
Hockney is known for his innovative approach to art and this Royal Academy exhibition demonstrates both his superlative technique and his openness to new ways of expressing himself. Several of his paintings are so big (up to 15 metres across) that they comprise multiple canvasses – other artworks are prints of pictures composed on his iPad.
Hockney is, perhaps, the quintessential multi-media artist: as well as paint, he uses still photography (including Polaroid), photocollage, fax and video cameras. Indeed, some of his films of the East Coast can be seen at this exhibition displayed on multiple screens simultaneously to provide an immersing and engrossing audio visual experience.
A “Turner Trail” was opened in 2010 linking around 70 places in Yorkshire that the artist JMW Turner visited and, in a similar vein, there will soon be an official “David Hockney Trail” for Yorkshire. This will enable residents and visitors to the county to see the source of the artist’s inspiration – from his birthplace in Bradford to the Yorkshire Wolds, close to where he has now made his home. The Trail will use the paintings featured in the Royal Academy exhibition as its theme – so we can expect places such as Saltaire, Warter, Thixendale, Garrowby Hill, Sledmere and Woldgate Woods to be highlighted. Once the David Hockney Trail has been officially opened don’t be surprised if “Hockney Country” takes its place besides “Herriot Country” and “Captain Cook Country” as one of the essentials for anyone visiting the county.
David Hockney, RA: A Bigger Picture is on until 9 April at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Tickets for the exhibition are available on a daily basis at the RA.
Tickets can also be booked in advance by phoning 0844 209 0051 or from the RA’s website - www.royalacademy.org.uk.
If you thought the panto season was over, think again!
We’ve discovered a few more pantos in Yorkshire scheduled for mid-February. You can check them out below, and underneath them you can find our original blogs listing many of the pantos across the North, East, South and West of Yorkshire, some of which also run into February.
If you have a panto you’d like us to mention, please send us details.
Haxby
Aladdin by the Flying Ducks (Panto) Group
15-18 February 2012
15th, 16th & 17th - 7.30pm
18th – 2.00pm matinee and 6.30pm evening show
Haxby & Wigginton Methodist Church Hall, The Village, Haxby, YORK YO32 2JJ
Tickets – Adults £6.00: Children £4.00
Tel: 01904 690 757
Wass
Tick Tock by Wass Panto Group
Tick Tock at Wass Village Hall
18 February – 2.00pm matinee and 6.30pm
Wass Village Hall, Wass, York YO61 4BE
Tickets: Matinee – adults £4, children £2. Evening – adults £5, children £3
Box Office: 01347 868 132
Click the links below to see our original posts listing pantos throughout Yorkshire:
Santa Special on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway - photo courtesy of the NYMR
Guess who’s coming to town? For an extra special trip to see Santa, why not enjoy a trip back in time on a fabulous steam train to meet Father Christmas in his grotto.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s popular Santa Special will depart from Grosmont and Pickering stations between 17-20 December. Ticket prices are £13.50 (adult and child fares) and you will experience a wonderful steam journey through the North York Moors National Park, meet Father Christmas and enjoy a mince pie and hot drink (or a festive tipple for adults). Kids will also receive a quality gift from Santa.
In addition, during this period, Christopher Vine, the popular children’s author, will be signing his books about trains at Pickering Station’s shop – they are a perfect stocking filler for young train lovers and can be purchased in the NYMR station shops starting from just £2.99.
Please book tickets in advance (01751 472508 or www.nymr.co.uk), timetable below:
Gervase Phinn - photo courtesy of Richard Benson, Danum Photos
Cruse – the charity which helps counsel bereaved people – is having a Christmas fundraiser at the Central Methodist Church in St Saviourgate, York on Friday 16 December with one of Yorkshire’s best-loved and wittiest authors and raconteurs, Gervase Phinn, as special guest.
The evening will take the form of a Carol Service with an unusual slant as Gervase will be telling anecdotes and stories gleaned from his years in education as a teacher and school inspector.
Gervase has been showered with awards over the years – including honorary doctorates and fellowships from a host of universities and he is a consultant for the Open University as well as the Fellow and Visiting Professor of Education at the University of Teesside. He has written many novels and children’s books and has made numerous appearances on local and national TV and radio.
Gervase Phinn - photo courtesy of Richard Benson, Danum Photos
Besides being laugh-out-loud funny, Gervase’s books also radiate warmth: he clearly loves children, is passionate about education, and has an ear for dialogue – particularly those things that children innocently come out with but which have adults in stitches.
Gervase Phinn’s latest book is called Out of the Woods But Not Over the Hill and you can buy it by clicking on the image of the book below:
Gervase has also written a book using anecdotes drawn from some of the many school nativity plays he has seen. A Wayne in a Manger is available here:
Another highlight of the evening will be the reading of a poem called Smile written by 15-year-old Emily Henman-Green, a pupil at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, which was picked by York Cruse as the winning entry in a recent competition.
Emily Henman-Green's winning poem - Smile - will be read out during the evening. Picture courtesy of Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate, York.
The money raised by the Christmas Cruse event will help finance the training of volunteers and supervisors for counselling bereaved children and adults.
Tickets for this very worthy evening are £10.50 and offer excellent value for money – as anyone attending will not only be helping a very deserving cause but will also come away feeling right-royally entertained.
The evening kicks off at 7:30pm in the Central Methodist Church, St Saviourgate, York. Tickets can be purchased by calling 01937 834 702 or emailing york@cruse.org.uk
Kirstie's Handmade Britain - photograph courtesy of Channel 4
Nidderdale takes its name from the River Nidd which runs through this Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It hosts an agricultural show each September in Pateley Bridge, a small town between Harrogate and Grassington and only four miles from the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Kirstie tries her hand at making sausages - picture courtesy of the Nidderdale Show
At this year’s Nidderdale Show, Kirstie Allsopp came along for an episode of her popular Channel 4 TV series Kirstie’s Handmade Britain. But she didn’t just take a look and leave – she got stuck in and made a Yorkshire pork pie and her own sausages. She also learnt the ins and outs of making brawn – a traditional dish made from pig’s heads, and sometimes known as pork cheese (Yorkshire folk don’t like to let anything go to waste, you know). Lots of preparation goes into putting on an agricultural show and Kirstie did her homework beforehand too – with local experts explaining how to make successful entries for the produce competitions at the Show.
Kirstie walks a pig - picture courtesy of the Nidderdale Show
The Nidderdale Show is said to be one of the country’s last proper agricultural shows and features one of the best exhibitions of animals in the UK – with first rate horse, livestock and dog sections.
Kirstie - pig walking - picture courtesy of Nidderdale Show
Kirstie was fascinated by the Pig Section – and was given lots of background by Sarah Whitley, a young farmer from Nidderdale. Sarah is only 14 but has already clocked up years of expertise, having been born and bred on a local dairy, pig, and sheep farm. And Sarah’s got the awards to prove it. For the fourth year on the trot (so to speak) she made a clean sweep in the Pig Section awards, picking up Best in Show, Best Local Pig and Most Points in Show. Sarah has also won awards at three other major British Agricultural Shows.
Kirstie chats with young farmer Sarah Whitley - picture courtesy of the Nidderdale Show
Kirstie also took part in the All-Terrain-Vehicle challenge – still wearing a dress, she gamely put on a crash helmet and jumped on to a quad bike and finished the course in a very creditable time – and got a massive round of applause for doing so.
Kirstie on the Quad Bike - picture courtesy of Nidderdale Show
Kirstie later said that she’d had “an absolutely brilliant time” at the Nidderdale Show. “Everyone was so friendly & kind, perhaps the most beautiful showground we’ve visited”.
You can find out how Kirstie got on at the Nidderdale Show at 8.00 pm on Wednesday 30 November when Channel 4 screen this episode of Kirstie’s Handmade Britain.
Christmas present ideas – Kirstie Allsopp’s “Homemade Home” book and “Craft” Kindle Edition
For the creative members of the family who love to making things for the home, one or both of these books could be the perfect Christmas present.
Click on the images on the left to see the products on Amazon.
Next year’s Nidderdale Show will be held on Monday 24 September 2012. If you’d like accommodation in the Yorkshire Dales for the show or to visit this beautiful area of Yorkshire, check out the Yorkshire Dales cottages and Yorkshire Dales B&Bs on Hello Yorkshire.
Northern Art Prize 2011 - image courtesy of the Northern Art Prize
If you’re looking for bright, fresh talent (or if you’re a Northern-based artist keen to enter an up-and-coming prize), check out the Northern Art Prize, and their new exhibition which starts tomorrow at Leeds Art Gallery.
The annual prize is now in its 5th year and celebrates the tremendous diversity of artists working in the North of England. Welcoming entrants who work in any media, and from all age groups and nationalities, the Northern Art Prize was set up in 2007 by Leeds City Council, Arup and Logistik with the aim of encouraging future talent and helping to make art accessible to all.
Four artists have been short-listed for this year’s prize. They are:
Liadin Cooke – using watercolours and sculpture, Cooke’s thoughtful work takes subjects apart before reforming them in her highly distinctive style
Leo Fitzmaurice – a sculptor and creator of humorous installations, Fitzmaurice utilises everyday objects from an unusual standpoint
James Hugonin – a painter of highly detailed work, Hugonin uses thousands of colours within a complex grid to create highly absorbing paintings
Richard Rigg – through sculpture, Rigg alters the state of everyday objects to challenge the viewer’s perspective (including a piano with every key tuned to middle C)
The winner will receive £16500, whilst the runners up will each be awarded £1500 – the announcement of which artist has won this year’s prize will be made on 19 January 2012.
In the meantime, head down to Leeds Art Gallery from 25 November to 19 February 2012 to pick out your favourite and experience the rich artistic talent of our area.
Harrogate, Helmsley and Huddersfield are three of the places to go in the UK if you want a relaxing spa treatment as they all host award-winning spas.
Harrogate’s Turkish Baths won the award for the Best UK Natural and Thermae Spa – beating off stiff competition across the country from Oban in Scotland to Bath’s World Heritage Spa in the Southwest. Harrogate’s Turkish Baths Manager, Graham Holman, is absolutely delighted to have won this award. He said: “We already know we are world-famous but are now proud to say that we are definitely world-class.”
This result vindicates the £1m refurbishment undertaken by Harrogate Borough Council in 2004 which restored them to their Victorian splendour. Additional investments of cash this year and in 2009 have seen further improvements by way of an extension, redecoration, mood lighting and a new steam room.
Councillor Caroline Bayliss, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, added her congratulations to the hardworking team at the Turkish Baths, “The Turkish Baths really can compete against their competitors in this ever growing market. Not only are the Baths popular with residents and tourists, we are also seeing a growing corporate hospitality market too. It is still one of my favourite places to relax in. If you haven’t been for a while go along and enjoy a real treat.”
The Verbena Spa at the Feversham Arms Hotel in Helmsley excelled itself. It not only won the Award for the Best Romantic Getaway, but it was also runner-up in the Spa Cuisine category. It too faced stiff competition from across the whole of the UK. And the Titanic Spa in Huddersfield was voted the Best Day Spa.
So all in all it was a spectacular Yorkshire hat trick.
Harrogate Turkish Baths - Frigidarium, photo courtesy of Harrogate Borough Council
What makes all these awards special is that they were voted for by The Spa Traveller’s readers – people who know spas from the user’s perspective. For six months, readers were asked to visit the Spa Traveller website and nominate their favourite spa, treatment, therapist, cuisine and even most breathtaking spa view – and the votes poured in from right across the world. As Janet Brice, Director and Managing Editor of The SPA Traveller, put it, “These awards have established an international benchmark of excellence for everyone involved in the Spa industry and users of spas.”
The SPA Traveller is a digital magazine for the luxury lifestyle – and it offers an objective guide to the world’s finest day spas, resort and hotel spas, treatments and spa-at-home products. It currently has over 65,000 readers and gets more than a million page impressions per month – so its readers’ views matter.
Nominations for next year’s awards have already started.
From left to right: Philip Benham (North Yorkshire Moors Railway), Councillor Joan Lovejoy (Mayor of Pickering), Councillor James Fraser (Ryedale District Council), Hannah Cockcroft (Paralympic athlete - Double world champion wheelchair racer), Gary Verity (Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and Chair of Yorkshire Gold) - photo courtesy of NYMR
As we mentioned in our recent blog the Olympic Torch will be visiting many cities, towns and villages in Yorkshire and the Humber on its passage around the UK which ends in London for the opening ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. During its journey the Torch will travel by various means of transport as well as being carried on foot. But Yorkshire has really struck lucky as two of the forms of locomotion will be locomotives – or rather on board trains being pulled by locomotives.
On Monday 18 June, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will take the Olympic Flame from Whitby, one of Britain’s favourite seaside resorts, aboard one of its steam trains. The Flame will leave the North Yorkshire coast to travel through the beautiful countryside of the North York Moors to the historic market town of Pickering. It seems rather fitting that the Torch will be travelling through countryside very much associated with outdoor exercises such as walking, running, cycling and riding as part of its journey to the premier competition for all things athletic.
Flying Scotsman from the National Rail Museum Pictorial Collection
Philip Benham, the General Manager of The North Yorkshire Moors Railway said on hearing the news that the NYMR would be involved, “This is a fantastic opportunity for the Railway to unite with the communities of North Yorkshire, in welcoming the Olympic Flame to our region and supporting those who have been chosen to run as Torchbearers. It is a great honour to have been selected as one of the host locations and we look forward to sharing the excitement of the Olympic spirit all the way along the line.”
And local councillors are delighted too. Cllr James Fraser, Member Champion for Sport for Ryedale District Council, said, “I am absolutely delighted that Ryedale residents will have the chance to see the Olympic Flame and witness the spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay.”
Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games added: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will act as a host location for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to the people in Yorkshire to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK. This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Yorkshire to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games.’
The Olympic Flame will be carried from York to Thirsk on Wednesday 20 June 2012 by the majestic Flying Scotsman. This glorious engine was built in 1923, having been designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and in 1934, the Scotsman was the first locomotive to officially break the 100 mph barrier. It did its bit during the Second World War carrying passengers and troops the length of the country – though it had to forgo its Apple Green livery for the more austere black, but when the war ended it returned to its original colour. Later, after the railways were nationalised the Scotsman was briefly blue before again changing colour to Brunswick Green in which colour it remained until its retirement in 1963. After several changes of ownership involving a stay in the United States and Australia it was saved for the nation in 2004. It is currently being restored, and should be back in service in spring 2012. The Flying Scotsman has travelled approximately 2½ million miles and given useful service to millions of passengers in its lifetime and is now an object of pleasure for new generations.
Flying Scotsman from the NRM Pictorial Collection
The Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and chair of Yorkshire Gold, Gary Verity, said: “We are delighted that the Torch will visit two of Yorkshire’s most prestigious railways. It is going to be a fantastic occasion for everyone and it will be wonderful to see the flame travelling on the Flying Scotsman from York to Thirsk and between Whitby and Pickering on the steam trains of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Being able to host the Torch over six days will give us a wonderful opportunity to profile and showcase our county to the world.”
The Olympic Torch will visit numerous Yorkshire towns & cities
The route for the 2012 London Olympic torch has been announced.
Arriving from Greece on 18 May, the torch’s relay starts in Land’s End on Saturday, 19 May and will snake its way around the United Kingdom for the next 70 days, taking in 1018 places before making one final journey from Hampton Court Palace down the River Thames to the Olympic Stadium in time for the Opening Ceremony.
Organisers say the torch will come within 10 miles of 95% of the population, and travel approximately 8000 miles. And as you’d expect, Yorkshire gets its fair share of exposure as the torch visits every corner of our great county.
The extensive list of Yorkshire dates is as follows:
Day 31 – 18 June 2012
Middlesbrough
Redcar
Marske-by-the-Sea
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Brotton
Carlin How
Loftus
Hinderwell
Lythe
Sandsend
Whitby
Pickering
Scarborough
Filey
Bridlington
Beverley
Hull
Day 32 – 19 June 2012
Hull
Brough
Goole
Camblesforth
Selby
Monk Fryston
Barkston Ash
Tadcaster
Boston Spa
Wetherby
Harewood
Knaresborough
Harrogate
Ripon
York
Day 33 – 20 June 2012
York
Thirsk
Northallerton
Aiskew
Bedale
Aysgarth
Leyburn
Richmond
Day 37 – 24 June 2012
Marsh
Huddersfield
Brighouse
Halifax
Bradford
Keighley
Skipton
Ilkley
Headingley
Potternewton
Harehills
Richmond Hill
Leeds
Day 38 – 25 June 2012
Leeds
Hunslet
Beeston
Morley
Batley
Dewsbury
Wakefield
Castleford
Pontefract
Ackworth
Lundwood
Cundy Cross
Barnsley
Darton
Kexbrough
Chapeltown
Ecclesfield
Parson Cross
Sheffield
Day 39 – 26 June 2012
Sheffield
Rotherham
Templeborough
Dalton
Thrybergh
Conisbrough
Warmsworth
Doncaster
Armthorpe
Dunsville
Hatfield
Part of the journey through Yorkshire will be on the Flying Scotsman as the torch travels from York to Thirsk, and the torch will also pass great Yorkshire landmarks such as York Minster, the Humber Bridge and Harewood House. Major celebrations are being planned in Leeds, Sheffield and York, whilst Hull will be hosting a festival of music and sport.
You can see the design of the torch with Jonathan Edwards here:
We’ll have updates of parties and celebrations as and when they’re announced in the coming months. In the meantime, for those looking for accommodation in Yorkshire during the Olympic torch relay, or even during the Olympics if you’re staying away from the capital, find York hotels, Whitby hotels and Leeds hotels on Hello Yorkshire.
Jamie visits Yorkshire, photograph by David Loftus and courtesy of Channel 4
Fresh from his American road trip and culinary tours around Europe and North Africa, Jamie Oliver’s new six-part series on Channel 4 brings him much closer to home as he tours the British Isles to uncover what makes British food so great, and to seek out inspiration and new ideas for recipes.
And episode two of Jamie’s Great Britain brings Jamie to the county with more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other – Yorkshire.
Eccles cake anyone? Photograph by David Loftus and courtesy of Channel 4
Jamie learns that classic British dishes have been influenced over centuries by colonization, immigration, invasion and exploration, and nowhere more so than in Yorkshire where the Industrial Revolution and the influx of immigrant workers played a large part in changing the food that we eat, mixing fresh new arrivals with old British traditions.
Jamie’s Yorkshire odyssey begins with huge Yorkshire puds and pints of locally-brewed beer at the fabulous Kings Arms pub in the little village of Heath near Wakefield, before he moves on to Leeds with its large Jewish community where he enjoys smoked fish and samples the amazingly creative pub recipes created using Timothy Taylor ales.
Jamie takes a break - photograph by David Loftus and courtesy of Channel 4
After meeting Chinese and Iranian chefs, Jamie gets down to some cooking himself and cooks up Jewish potted smoked trout with a horseradish pate, Yorkshire forced rhubarb stewed in Pimms with rice pudding, Eccles cakes with a cup of Yorkshire tea, a Persian-inspired dish of lamb shanks with Yorkshire beer and baby Yorkshire puddings.
You can catch Jamie’s Great Britain on Channel 4 on Tuesdays at 9pm, and Jamie’s Yorkshire trip will be aired on Tuesday 1 November.
Christmas present ideas – Jamie’s Great Britain book
For your friends and relatives who love cooking, check out the book of the series on Amazon by clicking the image on the left.
