Meet the Yorkshire Dales runner following in artist Marie Hartley's footsteps

Nearly ninety years on, Craven artist and fell runner Hester Cox has reprinted the engravings of these “glimpses into the social, cultural and natural history” into what became one of 15 National Park, and created a collection of her own collagraph prints.

Her prints of birds, flowers and Dales scenes have been inspired by re-tracing and repeatedly running along the paths which Marie Hartley walked.

The two-year project has come together in Views from the Fells - In the footsteps of Marie Hartley, an exhibition opening at the Dales Countryside Museum (DCM) in Hawes tomorrow.

The artist, who lives in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, said: “Marie Hartley’s wood engraving blocks are beautiful little glimpses into the social, cultural and natural history of the Yorkshire Dales. It has been a privilege to print them.

“It has also been my dream job to follow in the footsteps taken by Marie Hartley and Ella Pontefract for their Wensleydale, Swaledale and Wharfedale books and create prints out of my observations and experiences. As a keen fell runner, I’m out in the hills at all times of the year and I cannot recall a time when I have felt more connected to a particular landscape.”

Marie Hartley, who founded the DCM, was described as a “great” alongside fwllow historians Ella Pontefract and Joan Ingilby in the latest edition of North Yorkshire County Council’s Made in North Yorkshire series of campaigns.

DCM manager Fiona Rosher said: “The Dales Countryside Museum has only recently re-opened after the Coronavirus lockdown and we are delighted to be welcoming people back by sharing this very special exhibition which has such deep rooted connections with our collections and the founder of the museum itself.

“Hester was asked to make prints from the 127 unique wood engraving blocks bequeathed to the museum by Marie Hartley.

“It was thrilling seeing the prints being made by Hester. Each lift of the paper revealed the true intricacy of the blocks.

“Alongside the woodblock prints there is an extensive body of new work by Hester and I would warmly encourage people to come along to see it.

“She has brought the Yorkshire Dales landscape inside.”

The museum, housed in the former Hawes railway station in Wensleydale, is owned and managed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Its collection was started in the 1940s by Marie Hartley, Ella Pontefract and Joan Ingilby and has a claim to be the most comprehensive in the country relating to Dales heritage.

It ranges from prehistoric to modern day objects

Views from the Fells will run until November 9 2020.

People will need to book tickets in advance on the DCM website or by phoning 01969 666210. The DCM has been asked to record visitor information to assist with the NHS Track and Trace process.