Grimm etchings by David Hockney take centre stage at Festival of Yorkshire (From York Press)

David Hockney exhibition, Woodend, Scarborough, August 1 to 24

11:14am Friday 13th January 2012 in Exhibitions

A SERIES of early etchings by Yorkshire’s greatest living artist will take centre stage in Scarborough on Yorkshire Day as part of this year’s Festival of Yorkshire.

David Hockney had always loved the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm.

In 1969, he decided to do his own series of illustrations for them.

He produced in all nearly 40 different etchings, in which he brought his own unique perspective to the magic of the stories.

The etchings were printed in limited editions: 100 signed, and 400 unsigned. Hockney then scored through the etchings so no more prints could be made.

The Goldmark Gallery in Rutland has a nearly complete set – some signed, and some unsigned – and will be lending them to Scarborough’s Woodend Arts and Craft Gallery for the festival in August.

Woodend director Andrew Clay said he was “thrilled and honoured” that Hockney’s work would be coming to the gallery.

“He is without doubt one of the greatest living artists and we think his work on paper will look stunning in our unique gallery spaces,” he said.

“Like David Hockney, I am a Bradford-born man myself so feel rather humbled to have his creative genius represented. The exhibition is free so we urge all art lovers to take a look.”

Welcome to Yorkshire Area Director Janet Deacon added: “Hockney is without doubt one of the finest artists to come out of Yorkshire and I hope the Scarborough community and visitors to the town take the time to see his work on display.”

The Hockney exhibition will open on Yorkshire Day, August 1 at Woodend, and will run until 24 August.

Woodend worked with the Goldmark gallery last year on the John Piper exhibition, which proved extremely popular with visitors, Andrew said.

Two further shows are also planned with Goldmark. In April there will be an exhibition of work by Marc Chagall and in October / November work by Henri Matisse will be on show.

“A Festival of Yorkshire” is being spearheaded by Scarborough Borough Council and the Scarborough Urban Area Forum as part of its arts culture and sport theme for 2012.

It is being staged to coincide with Yorkshire Day after Scarborough was invited by the Yorkshire Society to host the main civic gathering when mayors, chairmen and other dignitaries from across the region gather to celebrate their pride in Yorkshire and the region’s unique appeal.

Events planned so far over the four-day festival include a Made in Yorkshire exhibition at the Spa, flat-cap Frisbee and guided tours at Scarborough Castle, a Yorkshire authors’ day at Scarborough Library and Information Centre, cookery demonstrations at Scarborough’s Market Hall and Vaults and a special “Scarborough Sings Together” at Scarborough Spa on 4 August, featuring more than 150 performers from young rappers to church choirs.

Stephen Lewis