UNFORGETTABLE images created by the world's top book illustrators have been taking pride of place at an historic house in North Yorkshire.

The exhibition, entitled Feeding The Imagination - Illustrators' Art II, is now in its final week at Nunnington Hall, near Helmsley.

It is the first of a series of events on an illustration theme which are set to draw visitors with an eye for a memorable image to the National Trust property. The current exhibition includes work by such well-known names as Quentin Blake, Edward Ardizzone, Paul Hogarth, and Thomas Heath Robinson.

Other big names include EH Shepard, of Winnie the Pooh fame, and John Harrold, who has work on display which first appeared in a Rupert Bear annual from 1986.

Simon Lee, property manager at Nunnington Hall, said the exhibition had been really popular. "It's helped us to get a really good start to the season."

He said the exhibition was all of original work, including drawings, sketches and paintings.

It finishes on Sunday, and is open from 1.30pm to 5pm, though the hall's tea room and garden are open from 12.30pm. Admission is £4.50 for adults, £2 for children, and free to National Trust members.

Mr Lee said the next exhibition, starting on May 21, focused on images of a different kind. Called Rock Icons, it is the work of Gered Mankowitz, former official photographer to the Rolling Stones. It includes pictures of major rock figures from the 1960s to the present day, from the likes of Hendrix to The Verve. In July and August there will be an exhibition called The Wonderful World of Beatrix Potter, with drawings and watercolours by the legendary children's author.

Updated: 10:34 Wednesday, May 07, 2003