VIEWS of Malham Cove and Kilnsey Crag as inspirations for artists feature in a new exhibition at the Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes.

For centuries, the Yorkshire Dales has been a source of ideas for artists and writers such as JMW Turner and William Wordsworth.

And this year marks the bicentenary of Turner's visit to Yorkshire, after which he produced several masterpieces.

Artists Jo Hume and Debbie Loane have sought to follow in the famous artist's footsteps and take inspiration from the dramatic views of the Dales.

The Turner Trail was created many years ago and has recently been promoted again through tourism organisation, Welcome to Yorkshire.

The exhibition links with the trail and provides an accessible way of connecting with the landscape and the views that inspired Turner.

“Reading about Turner's delight in seeing and experiencing the wild weather of Yorkshire and its effect on his style resonated deeply with my own experience of painting, " said Jo.

"The biggest thrill is seeing how Turner in later life became so free in the way he applied paint which set the course of painting towards abstraction.”

Debbie said it had not been her intention to faithfully reproduce the scene - such as a photograph would.

"I want to express the intensity of the scene, so steeped in history and tradition and the experience of that place and the weather and stimulation of the senses.”

Museum Manager Fiona Rosher said: “By linking Turner’s work directly to the landscape, we hope to inspire more people to both explore and engage with this beautiful scenery through art.

“The exhibition includes many of the stunning landscape features of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, such as Aysgarth Falls, Malham Cove, Semerwater, Hardraw Force, Kilnsey Crag and Conistone. By working with contemporary landscape artists and photographers we have highlighted the landscape features in which Turner was so interested and made links to the sketches he made while travelling through the Dales.”

The exhibition, which will run until September 28, includes family art activities so that everyone who visits can have fun following in Turner’s footsteps.

There will also be a chance to meet the artists Jo Hume and Debbie Loane on Sunday between midday and 4pm.

Visitors will also be able to view virtual copies of the pages of Turner’s sketchbooks, the originals of which are held at the Tate, London.

The exhibition is included in the Museum’s admission fee, which is £4.50 for adults, £4 concessions and free for under 16s. Annual pass, £9.

The museum 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 is the most comprehensive in the country relating to Dales heritage.

It ranges from prehistoric right up to modern day, and tells the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.

Displays interpret the way the landscape has been shaped by people in their efforts to live and work in the area, with themes including family and home life, leisure and tourism, transport and communication, farming, crafts and industries.