AN exhibition inspired by Laurence Sterne's infamous blank page in The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is on show at Sterne's home of Shandy Hall, Coxwold, near York.

Paint Her To Your Own Mind continues the conceit of the two previous Shandy Hall shows, The Black Page and Emblem Of My Work, this time by inviting 147 artists, writers and composers to join in creating 147 different representations of beauty. Each contribution remains anonymous, leaving the visitor to guess which artist created which page.

By Volume VI of his nine-volume novel that Sterne began publishing in 1759, his exuberant and provocative approach to telling the story of Tristram’s life and opinions has reached the point where he surrenders all responsibility and encourages the reader to do all of the work. Hence Page 147 is blank.

Sterne wants to stimulate the creation of the most beautiful woman that ever existed and invites the reader: "To conceive this right, —call for pen and ink— here’s paper ready to your hand, —Sit down, Sir, paint her to your own mind—as like your mistress as you can —as unlike your wife as your conscience will let you—‘tis all one to me— please but your own fancy in it."

Forgive The Press for not naming all 147 creators of the 147 beauties but they include Norman Ackroyd; Radio Bavaria; Glen Baxter; Frank Cottrell Boyce; Peter Carey; Helen Douglas; Ian Duhig; Stephen Fry; Jonathan Meades; Simon Morris; Lemony Snicket; Momoyo Torimitsu; Craig Vear; Helen Whittaker; Greville Worthington and Hugo Yoshikawa.

Each page is for sale by auction. Not only exhibition visitors are able to bid, so too are online bidders via the exhibition blog: blankpage147.wordpress.com Paint Her To Your Own Mind runs until September 30.

Shandy Hall Gardens and Gallery are open every day, except Saturday, from 11am to 4.30pm; Shandy Hall is open on Wednesdays and Sundays with tours at 2.45pm and 3.45pm.