THE Great North Art Show in Ripon Cathedral has welcomed more than 3,000 visitors since it opened on August 31.

Hundreds of artworks are currently adorning the aisles, by some of the finest contemporary Northern artists, in an exhibition which runs until Sunday, September 22.

A special highlight this year is a showcase of works by one of UK’s foremost cartoonists Annie Tempest, who has been invited to showcase original illustrations of her much-loved Tottering-by-Gently strip, which has run for 26 years in Country Life Magazine.

Animal artist Tania Still is showing a selection of her paintings, inspired by her passion for the countryside and exploring rural life. Tania’s paintings can be found in many private collections throughout the UK, Europe, the USA and recent exhibitions include The Dog exhibition at Chatsworth.

Each year a series of prizes are awarded to exhibiting artists and this year, Diane Sinnott, a Fine Art expert from Tennants Auctioneers, was one of the judges.

She said: "I was very impressed by the overall quality of work in this year’s Great North Art Show, and there was a particularly strong selection of artists who focused on the natural world. Tania Still’s impressive hound and horse paintings were extraordinary and newcomer Holly Scott’s lino cuts of rooks were beautifully rendered."