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Welcome to Hockney Country

December 9, 2011

Until now, the pretty Yorkshire Wolds have been happy sitting quietly, minding their own business while the tourists flock to their neighbours the Dales and the Moors. Even the Wolds’ most famous adopted son, David Hockney (aka the godfather of British modern art) has been less than keen to promote the area in the past as he hates the thoughts of crowds descending on his quiet corner of England. And who can blame him? Many of his paintings have been inspired by the quiet beauty of the Wolds and the rest of the East Riding of Yorkshire, where he lives by the sea. Works such as the vast ‘Bigger Trees near Warter’ usually shown at the Tate and the equally impressive landscape ‘Woldgate Woods’ capture the essence of the place.

It’s those paintings though that seem to have prompted a change of heart from the artist however, according to today’s news. Many of Hockney’s Wolds-inspired works are set to be included in January’s major exhibition of his landscape paintings at the Royal Academy in London. Perhaps resigning himself to the fact that the exhibition will put the Yorkshire Wolds firmly on the art map, the artist has agreed to work with the Yorkshire Tourist Board to create an official ‘Hockney Tourist Trail’, no doubt pinpointing the actual places that have inspired his paintings, rather than letting tourists stare in reverence at a clump of trees that have never featured in any work of art, let alone one of Hockney’s.

It has to be said, the artist himself still seems rather reticent and went rather misty eyed at the press conference to launch his Royal Academy exhibition, worrying that his paintings might result in an influx of people to the Wolds, altering its tranquil atmosphere. For anyone looking for somewhere a little off the beaten track though, Hockney’s trail will add a fascinating dimension to a weekend in this lovely part of Yorkshire.

For a unique place to stay in the heart of the rolling Yorkshire Wolds, check out the lovely Wolds Village in Bainton.

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