A NORTH Yorkshire artist has released artwork to support conservation of rare red squirrels in the Yorkshire Dales.

Stacey Moore, based in Hawes in Richmondshire has made it her mission to support and raise the awareness of the elusive animals. For Red Squirrel Awareness Week this week, she has created a new coloured pencil drawing inspired by the red squirrel trail at Snaizeholme, which was set up by national park authority staff and volunteers.

The national park provides an important habitat for the animals.

Ten per cent of the price of the artist’s original drawing, entitled Yorkshire’s Redheaded Wonder and ten per cent of every limited edition print will be donated towards the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s fund for red squirrel conservation.

She said: “The work which has been done by the land owners and National Park Authority needs to be commended. I wanted to raise money through telling their story and making people aware of the struggling squirrel situation.”

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Wildlife Conservation Officer, Ian Court, said: “We would like to thank Stacey for her generous offer that will help with the Red Squirrel conservation and raising awareness work that is undertaken by the authority.

“Stacey is clearly passionate about these animals and has spent a lot of time observing them in the woodlands around Hawes, enabling her to capture the true character of a Yorkshire Dales red squirrel as it bounds along the top of a dry stone wall that is so expertly portrayed in this excellent print.”

For further details about the artwork visit; staceymooreart.com or visit The Stacey Moore Art Gallery in Hawes, DL8 3QX, open every day except Sundays.