IMPRESSIONISTIC and engaging are words that immediately spring to mind when first seeing out the colourful contemporary paintings of acclaimed Ravenstonedale artist David William Morris.

“Not quite abstract, more poetic,” suggests David. “The subjects of the paintings are the result of little encounters with things I see near Ravenstonedale, whether it’s a lane, a big sweep of a hill, a group of cows or the wonderful growths of wild flowers such as meadowsweet or rosebay willow herb.”

The hills, fields, stone walls and other vistas within a five mile radius of the south-east Cumbrian village have inspired David's Along the Lane, Across the Dale exhibition, which is running at Coniston's Ruskin Museum until December 10.

David says he was asked to exhibit at the highly thought of Ruskin Museum by its curator Vicky Slowe.

He was "very pleased" to accept as he and Vicky were once colleagues at Kendal’s Abbot Hall Art Gallery during the tenure of the eminent Mary Burkett.

In fact, he has a long association with Kendal, not only at Abbot Hall, but also having taught oil painting at the Brewery for several years and was a carpet designer at Goodacre Carpets, which is now The Factory on Aynam Road, an excellent collection of creative workspaces for artists and businesses.

David - who won first prize at the 2008 Upfront Cumbria Open - has lived and painted in the village of Ravenstonedale for almost 30 years along with his artist wife Caroline A Metcalfe-Gibson; together they run The Scar Gallery and exhibit their own work within its walls.

And Along the Lane, Across the Dale should help David's impressive art reach a fresh audience and enable him to assess how the paintings look in new surroundings.

Ruskin Museum is open 10am-4.30pm.

Closed Monday and Tuesday, November 13-14.

For further information and winter opening times telephone 015394-41164 or visit www.ruskinmuseum.com.