WHEN love-struck artist and classical guitarist Rob Bartlitz proposed to girlfriend Donna Fordham, he decided on an unconventional approach.

Instead of popping the question during a candlelit meal, he painted a canvas with two intertwined hearts and the message, ‘Donna, will you marry me?’, placed it in a York art gallery and played a specially composed piece of music as she turned up expecting to see the latest art show.

Donna, 36, a baker, was speechless when she arrived at the Artfulness gallery in Goodramgate and set eyes on the painting.

Customers then clapped and cheered as she painted her response on the canvas – ‘Yes, I love you.’ Rob and Donna, from London, are regular visitors to their friends Geoff Widdop and Julian Rudd of Heworth, York, and Rob, 40, whose day job is in the civil service, decided to use their latest visit to launch his bid for matrimony, feeling Artfulness provided the ideal setting.

“This is the most romantic proposal that I can imagine,” said Donna. “I had no idea I was about to discover the painting, or that so many people plotted to create this wonderful surprise.”

Artfulness owner Amie Antoniak said: “Julian and Geoff have bought paintings here in the past and we were delighted to help. Artfulness is a friendly and affordable place to find original and stimulating art – but it’ll be hard to ever capture the sheer joy and romance of this special moment.”