YORKSHIRE DALES based artists are being given the chance to showcase their skills for free thanks to the National Park Authority.

The reception area at YDNPA's Yoredale offices in Bainbridge - which were officially opened last July - is being offered as an exhibition space so that dales artists can display their work to visitors.

The response has been fantastic and we have offers of work from a range of artists

Richard Burnett - YDNPA

The first to be staged this year is work by Judith Bromley, who has lived and worked in Askrigg since 1973.

Her paintings vary from large landscapes to small flower studies and from traditional to a more exploratory approach. She is inspired by the contrasts of wild empty moorland and flower-filled meadows and uses a variety of media to express her deep love of the dales countryside.

Throughout March there will be a display of work from Piers Browne, who lives near Askrigg, including a large oil of Lady Hill in Wensleydale and several large etchings from the 'Glorious Trees of Great Britain' series.

Richard Burnett, the Authority's Head of Finance and Resources said: "Towards the end of last year we issued an open invitation via newsletters and websites and by direct approaches asking if any of the Dales area art community would like to display their material in our new offices. The response has been fantastic and we have offers of work from a range of artists - some well established and others who are less well known.

"We're delighted that they are so enthusiastic about lending us their pictures because it means staff and visitors to our building will now have a chance to enjoy some examples of the wealth of local artistic talent in the area".

The 2007 art programme follows the success of two exhibitions last year by local artists David Cook and Andrea Hunter.

Anyone wanting further details about this year's exhibitions or information about displaying should contact Secretariat Administrator Lesley Knevitt on 0870 1 666 333.