ALONG come two Malcolm Ludvigsen exhibitions at once, the first just started at York Hospital, the second opening next Tuesday at Sledmere House, Sledmere, near Driffield.

"My hospital show has the imaginative title Paintings by Malcolm Ludvigsen and has been arranged by Arts at York Hospital, whose website can be found at yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/arts/," says the prolific York artist, cycling enthusiast and mathematics professor.

"Their aim is to provide a varied, ongoing programme of artistic enhancements to improve the environment of York Hospital for patients, staff and visitors and to brighten up the place with a few paintings on the wall."

York Press:

Professor Malcolm Ludvigsen cycling off on another painting excursion

The hospital exhibition is stationed on the main corridor at Junction 3, where it will run until November 3. "It consists mostly of local plein-air paintings with the aid of my bike, an essential piece of painting equipment acting both as transport and as an anchor to my easel in the wind," says Malcolm.

"Consequently, all the paintings are painted within about ten miles of York, apart from a couple of large seascapes. There are several paintings done from the banks of the Ouse and a few meadow paintings too of Fulford Ings, Clifton Ings and Walmgate Stray."

York Press:

Artwork by Malcolm Ludvigsen

All the paintings are for sale and ten per cent of the sale price goes to the hospital. "Being a hospital, it is open all the time so do pop along sometime," says Malcolm. "If you have the misfortune of having to visit the hospital for a stay there, do insist that they wheel you down the main corridor, pausing at Junction 3."

The Sledmere House exhibition, a joint show with regular painting partner Kate Kenney, has only a short run by comparison with the hospital one. "It consists of our paintings of the Wolds and Yorkshire coast, where Kate and I paint the same things but have very different styles and ways of seeing things, so our contrasting styles may prove interesting," says Malcolm.

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One of Kate Kenney's works for the Triton Gallery show in Sledmere

"I'd like to say that our paintings will be displayed in the splendid 18th century Sledmere House, tucked in with all the Titians and Van Dyks but, alas, the exhibition will be in the cow barn over the road, now called the Triton Gallery. However, most of the cows have been cleared out and there's hardly a cow pat to be seen!" adds the Belle Vue Street artist, in joshing mode.

The Sledmere show will run from August 30 to September 4, open 11am to 5pm.