Awash with colour in the garden ANTHONY Clark, a distinguished professional artist who is an associate of the Royal College of Art, has been inspired by a forays around the gardens of Eggleston Hall, near Barnard Castle.

The result is a new exhibition, Floral Journey, comprising paintings, etchings and drawings, in the restaurant, which appropriately overlooks the grounds of the 17th century manor.

“The gardens and plants from Eggleston have greatly inspired and informed my work, so it is fitting that Eggleston should be the venue for the exhibition,” said Mr Clark, who works in a studio at Whorlton, in Teesdale.

“The gardens will be in full bloom throughout the summer, so will provide an ideal foil to the work.”

Eggleston Hall, owned by Sir William and Lady Gray, has extensive gardens, which includes a 16th century churchyard.

“It is a real pleasure to have an artist as talented as Anthony Clark draw his inspiration from our gardens and plants,” said Sir William.

The artist studied at Sunderland College of Art and Royal College of Art, London, where his tutors were Carel Weight, Peter Blake andCarel Weight, Peter Blake and Roger de Gray.

He spent many years as head of art at Sunderland College before deciding to become a fulltime artist.

His last exhibition in the region was in 2004 at the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, where is pictures inspired by El Greco were very well received.

He has exhibited at the Royal Academy summer exhibitions and at the Piers Feetham Gallery in London, and his work is represented in many public collections in Britain and abroad.

He has fulfilled many private and ecclesiastical commissions, and his work was collected by L S Lowry. The late Cardinal Hume received his paintings as civic gifts.

The garden restaurant at Eggleston Hall is open daily from 10am-5pm, except Mondays, though it does open on bank holiday Mondays.