Coup for resort gallery as Hockney to exhibit work for new Yorkshire festival

The Hockney exhibition will open on Yorkshire Day, August 1, at the Woodend Arts and Craft Gallery in the Crescent and run until August 24.

It is likely to feature a selection of the artist’s works on paper, including etchings and litho-graphs.

Hockney, who was born in Bradford, recently moved to back to Yorkshire, to Bridlington, after a spell in America.

Although Hockney is not working directly with Woodend on the exhibition, gallery director Andrew Clay said he hoped the artist could be persuaded to visit on the opening night.

He said: “We are thrilled and honoured to be able to say that the work of David Hockney is coming to Woodend. He is one of the greatest living artists and we think his work on paper will look stunning in our unique gallery spaces.

“Like David Hockney, I am a Bradford-born man so feel rather humbled to have his creative genius represented in this modern creative industries centre. We would like to try to get him to come to the opening in the new year.

“What fascinates me is the fact that he’s come back to Yorkshire – he’s lived in LA for years and had a very high-profile career but he’s come back to his roots in a way. Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth are from this area but they never came back.”

Mr Clay said he believed Hockney had been inspired by his Yorkshire surroundings. “If you look at his recent work, it’s mainly landscape-based. His surroundings are obviously providing inspiration.”

The exhibition is being staged to coincide with Yorkshire Day after Scarborough was invited by the Yorkshire Society to host the main civic gathering when mayors, chairmen and other dignitaries from across the region gather to celebrate their pride in the white rose county and its unique appeal.

Other events planned for A Festival of Yorkshire – Scarborough include flat-cap Frisbee and guided tours of Scarborough Castle.