A WELL-known and acclaimed wildlife artist has died.

David Binns was a long-time member of the Society of Wildlife Artists and a four-times winner of the prestigious RSPB Fine Art Award.

In addition to the paintings, book illustrations and designs for jigsaws and greetings cards for which he was well known, Mr Binns also enjoyed a career in teaching.

He was born at Sutton-in-Craven in 1935, son of landscape artist Dan Binns.

His artistic education began at art school in Skipton, before he went on to Leeds College of Art where he gained a National Design Diploma in illustration.

Mr Binns then completed two years’ national service in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

He began his teaching career at the former Aireville School, Skipton, before returning to his ‘old school’ Ermysted’s Grammar as head of the art department.

From 1979, he spent 13 years as a freelance artist in Northumberland, living in a cottage overlooking the famous Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve.

There, the wintering wildfowl and waders of the Fenham Flats and summer nesting birds of the Farne Islands became important subjects for his work.

Mr Binns and his family then moved back to Yorkshire, where the wildlife of the Pennine hills and valleys was captured in his sketchbooks and paintings.

He was a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists from 1964 until 2012.

And in 1999, he had a Doctor of Letters honour bestowed on him by the University of Bradford in recognition of his dedication to art and wildlife.

For 25 years, Mr Binns worked as a freelance artist and – with his wife, Molly – ran the Brent Gallery, firstly in Northumberland and then back in Yorkshire.

The gallery closed in 2006.

Molly says: “David was very much a family man.

“He was a well-known and much-loved character and will be sadly missed.”

Mr Binns is survived by Molly and their three children, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.