A NORTH-East artist with a gallery in North Yorkshire has given a district council a permanent reminder of the success of the Tour de France.

World-renowned Mackenzie Thorpe, born in Middlesbrough, has presented Richmondshire District Council with a banner featuring his original painting which was the council’s official image of the tour.

The artist’s main gallery, Arthaus, is based in Richmond, and his painting Over Hill and Dale, of a Tour de France cyclist on a distinctly Mackenzie Thorpe bike, is available to buy there.

A spokeswoman from Arthaus said: “The image evokes Mackenzie’s unique ability to express the entire range of human emotions he draws and paints for the ordinary person and the life we all live.”

Mackenzie wanted to give a signed banner to the council as a reminder of the event.

“The legacy of the Le Tour continues,” said Councillor Russell Lord, chairman of Richmondshire District Council. “We are thrilled to be able to keep this unique piece of art to remind us of the day the world’s greatest bike race came to Richmondshire.

“In the New Year a competition and a charitable auction will take place to win one of these exclusive and much sought after pieces of artwork.”