The wife of Settle gallery owner Gary Fitch, who was killed in a car crash near Stainforth has said he was “special in every way”.

Thirty-eight-year-old Mr Fitch, who ran the Three Peaks Gallery, died when his blue Subaru Impreza left the road and collided with a stone wall just after 8am on Sunday.

And although he had been in business for just a year, he had made many friends in Settle and married local woman Hazel Lord in August 2011.

“Gary was a true one-off, special in every way,” she said. “Anyone can pick up a camera, but Gary had heart and soul and a love for nature which showed through in his work.

“He was a wonderful husband and great stepdad and loved life. He was a very intelligent, funny and sensitive man and there will be a big hole in my heart for a long, long time. Family and friends will miss him very much.”

Tributes have been paid by Settle’s business community.

“It is desperately sad,” said Steve Amphlett, chairman of Vibrant Settle, who had been working with Gary on a new booklet to promote the town. “He was always so enthusiastic and so positive about the future.”

Born and raised in Lancaster, Gary gained a first class honours degree in sports turf agronomy before deciding to follow a career as a professional photographer.

He moved to Settle, drawn by its quiet way of life and stunning scenery, and opened the Three Peaks Gallery in December 2011.

He relaunched it last month, with Hazel joining the business.

“He was so excited about it, which makes it even more tragic,” said Steve.

Another tribute came from Alison Marshall, from Settle’s Gallery of the Green, which staged an exhibition of Gary’s photographs in the early autumn.

“He was enthusiastic and meticulous about the exhibition and it proved to be one of our most popular to date. He had a stunning range of pictures, he was just so talented,” she said.

It is understood Gary – who had three stepchildren, Nicholas, Emily and Louis – was the sole occupant of the vehicle when the collision occurred on B6479 just south of Stainforth village.

He had been heading towards Settle.

The road was closed for around six hours while police collision investigators conducted a detailed examination of the scene.

Officers are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the Subaru travelling along the road to get in touch.

Traffic Constable Ken Riley, of Skipton Road Policing Group, said: “Anyone who saw the vehicle prior to the incident or saw the collision itself could be a vital witness.”

Witnesses can contact TC Riley at Skipton Road Policing Group on 101, quoting reference number 12120203245.