YORKSHIRE artist Douglas Gray is exhibiting figurative and landscape paintings at the Blake Gallery, Blake Street, York, until June 4.

Born in Wetherby, Douglas lives in Scarborough, where he enjoys spectacular views from his studio across the South Bay towards Flamborough Head.

He was introduced to art at an early age by his father, who was a painter, although Douglas began his career as a poster designer for Athena, followed by a stint in advertising with a personal client list that included Pepsi and Universal Studios.

A career move led to designing book jackets for several major publishing companies and this finally paved the way for Douglas to forge his career as a professional artist, whose high-profile collectors include the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and fashion designer George Davies.

He is a regular exhibitor with the Royal Society of Marine Artists, the Royal Oil Painters Institute and the Royal Society of British Artists in London.

“I do not live by a rigid set of rules, but I do find myself painting for a good eight hours on most days, although travel is the key for me,” he says. “People-watching provides a fantastic source of inspiration and I enjoy recreating moments between couples or people alone with their thoughts.”

In a new addition to the Blake Gallery walls, owner Michael Hourston has recently put up a series of beautiful watercolour paintings by Gerald Green in his York debut. Gerald has exhibited at The Mall Galleries, in London, with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Pastel Society and has been a finalist in the Singer and Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition, Laing Art Exhibition and Not The Turner Prize Exhibition.

“Up until now, Gerald has been happy to sell his work through galleries in the south and Midlands, but having visited numerous galleries in the north, he wanted to exhibit here in York at the Blake Gallery and we’re delighted to have him,” says Michael.

“Gerald is one of the busiest artists I have met and this is reflected in his work. There’s a lot going on, but painted in a loose style that only the best artists seem to achieve.”

The gallery will have a number of Gerald’s paintings in its mixed exhibitions that will run through the summer.

“My paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life,” said Gerald.

“Many are painted on the spot and are essentially personal responses to what I see. My approach is to interpret the essence of my chosen subjects with an almost casual reality, rather than producing meticulously detailed likenesses of actual places. Light is the essential ingredient which I use to energise and invigorate my work.”

The Blake Gallery is open from 10am to 5pm daily, except Tuesdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday.