ARTIST Mrs Anne Lang is painting a brighter future for herself and her neighbours.

Her new art studio in a beautifully converted ancient barn is expected to attract students from around the country, and that will be good news for local farmhouse bed and breakfast businesses and hotels, which have already found trade from some of her students.

Mrs Lang is an accomplished watercolour artist who has always held small courses based at her home at Broadway Foot, Hawnby, near Helmsley, running the courses while helping her husband, Peter, build their pedigree Limousin herd into one of the finest in Europe.

Their success in the show ring, at both local and national level, is unrivalled and the farm draws many breeders and overseas visitors to see their stock.

Despite that huge success, the agricultural crisis has struck and an expansion of the art courses seemed an obvious way of creating extra income.

The Langs' idyllic 17th century thatched cottage and garden are a painter's dream.

An equally ancient long stone barn was the obvious candidate for conversion. It overlooks the beautiful upper Rye valley and, from its new windows, offers spectacular views - even on wet days - for artists to paint.

The Langs won the full backing of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service for their plans. A grant was also awarded by North Yorkshire County Council's economic development centre under the European objective 5b scheme and, although the North York Moors national park planning officials had reservations, members voted in favour.

Conversion work began in December and the first students met there in June.

"We knew we had a major exercise because the roof and timbers were starting to go," said Mrs Lang. "The floor was also on three levels so we raised that to two."

One aspect of the grant was job creation and investment in the local economy.

So far Mrs Lang has taught between 200 and 300 artists between the months of May and November, from basic beginners to the more accomplished, but will now operate all the year round. Up until now many have lived within an hour's travelling time but others have travelled further and stayed over. That number is bound to increase.

"We have found that those who are not from the area do return," said Mrs Lang. "One lady from Essex has been back three times and has brought family and friends to the area.

"Those that do return don't always come back to paint either, they come walking or touring, so it is all extra money for the local economy."

Mrs Lang, who has installed central heating in the new studio, also employs a local woman to supply lunches for students on the courses.

Born in Marton in Cleveland, Mrs Lang attended Cleveland grammar school. She studied watercolour painting as a mature student while her husband was serving as a Royal Navy officer, studying under Claude Kitto, a traditional watercolour painter, and later under Judith White, a leading contemporary painter in Australia.

Mrs Lang began tutoring in 1983 and this year has 30 scheduled courses in watercolour and sketching, along with demonstrations and workshops for art societies throughout the North of England.

Her work is exhibited widely and paintings have been commissioned by businesses including ICI, Philips Petroleum, Trust House Forte, the Duchy of Lancaster and St Peter's school, York. Many others have also commissioned her work, which can be found in private collections in several countries, including the USA.

A passionate gardener, she has undertaken several commissions for garden and flower paintings and, as a leading cattle breeder, is regularly commissioned to paint livestock.

The Ryedale herd of pedigree Limousin was initiated by Mrs Lang's uncle, Mr Walter d'Leny in 1982.

Mr Lang left the navy in 1986 and Mr d'Leny, who was then in his 80s, completely unexpectedly invited them to join him at Broadway Foot. Mr and Mrs Lang had no farming background but entered it with fresh eyes, enthusiasm and many, many questions.

Mr Lang spent a week in France learning from the French Limousin technicians. He also asked a wise old breed judge to show him what was wrong with animals by touch.

"We started with no knowledge and saw things slightly differently," said Mr Lang, who also owns a shop - Homeworks - in Helmsley. "We sold all but two of the herd that was here when we arrived because we did not think they were good enough and just went round asking questions."

They still work together and believe Mr Lang's technical knowledge and Mrs Lang's artistic eye have given them the success they have enjoyed.

They have had exceptional show and sale results, hitting the headlines with their first visit to the Royal Show in 1990 when Ryedale Dream became female champion as a heifer.

Since then they have taken 30 different animals to the Royal, 23 of which have been placed in the top three of their classes.

Last year Ryedale Orion became the first Limousin, and possibly the first beef animal, to win interbreed titles at the Royal, the Royal Welsh and the Royal Highland in the same show season. He also took the interbreed at his local Great Yorkshire Show.

The Langs and three other Yorkshire breeders formed White Rose Limousin in 1991. A 200 cow co-operative breeding group and the first in the UK, it provides jointly owned sires and group tests their progeny. Each herd has benefited tremendously.

The art studio also doubles as a meeting centre for the groups of breeders from home and abroad who regularly visit Broadway Foot