YORK artist Tony Brook has painted 12 “new and quite different scenes of our wonderful city” through the year for his 2015 calendar, Historic York In Ink & Watercolour.

“As in previous years, I’ve brought the scenes together to form a calendar and this time I’ve tried to include far more detail in my work, while retaining the looseness of my natural style. I hope this works and would welcome feedback,” says Tony.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 12 months, working on a new series of ink and watercolour paintings to capture our city. In these works, my focus has been not only on the historical element of the city, but also the quirkiness of the old world buildings and the day-to-day lifestyle of its inhabitants. Each painting has its own caption, to add to the atmosphere. I hope you enjoy.”

The dozen subjects and places Tony has chosen are pleasingly varied.

“Perhaps, for some, they’re a little off the beaten track too,” he says.

“I was determined to feature Terry’s chocolate factory because of the part it has played in so many York people’s lives over the years and I’ve combined this with a typical day out at York races.

“Another one is of Skeldergate Bridge, one of York’s finest bridges and probably my favourite, having spent many happy hours around there as a child on Sunday outings to Rowntree Park, walking past the many fishermen along the river banks of the Ouse.”

Venturing out of the city, Tony headed to Sheriff Hutton to depict the former castle of Richard III in its tranquil setting.

“This, I felt, I had to feature because of the recent controversy that Richard will never return to his beloved city of York and will remain in Leicester, despite local opinion,” he says.

“I also felt I must include probably the biggest thing to hit York since the Vikings: the Tour de France. This world-renowned cycle race through the streets of historic York brought crowds out in their thousands and had to be in my calendar. The peloton of 197 riders flashing past the De Grey Rooms and Bootham Bar somehow just seemed unreal and too good not to feature.”

Tony’s York 2015 Calendar costs £8.50 plus postage and packaging, the same as for the past two years.

“These calendars are not mass-produced but printed and made up to order locally and I’m sure you will feel that price is good value for your money,” he says.

All 12 individual monthly images are shown on Tony’s website, tonybrookyorkartist.co.uk, from which the calendars can be ordered. They are on sale at Heworth and Huntington post offices too and Tony will have a stand at the Skelton Garden Centre Christmas Fair on Saturday and Sunday.