FOR the past two years Ian Scott Massie has researched and collected stories of all kinds from the Yorkshire Dales.

He has gathered classic legends, historical characters, and the background behind real events and personal anecdotes, put them altogether and brought them to life, via his paintings and prints in a exhibition - Tales of the Dales.

Ian’s works are now gracing the walls at Sedbergh’s Farfield Mill.

And as well as the visual side, there’s also Tales of the Dales the book, an illustrated, light hearted ramble through tall tales, legends, trivia and folklore that the Masham-based artist collected, which sits neatly next to his Farfield exhibition alongside the paintings which they inspired.

Ian was born in London during the Great Smog of 1952 and developed chronic asthma. Long hours immobile in bed or on the sofa resulted in him becoming, at an early age, a dedicated bookoholic. His childhood imagination was fed by his parent’s treasure trove of traditional stories and legends, and the creations of A A Milne, Kenneth Graham, Hans Christian Anderson, Lewis Carroll, Jonathan Swift, Phillippa Pearce and Robert Louis Stevenson.

He grew up in Buckinghamshire close to the childhood home of Paul Nash – an abiding influence in his work He was also inspired by the colourful work of his school art teacher, Romeo di Girolamo (current president of the Royal Society of British Artists), and began painting professionally while a student in Durham. Working first in oils and screen printing, his work progressed through acrylic ink and paint before he settled into watercolours.

Ian has specialised for some years in single themed exhibitions, exhibits regularly at galleries throughout Britain and has work in print with major art publishers. The Masham Gallery is the principal outlet for his work.

Ian trained as a music teacher and pursues a parallel career as a musician. He is a founder and events coordinator of the Masham Arts Festival and a founder of Artison arts and crafts teaching studios, near Masham, where he lives. He was a semi-finalist in BBC’s Mastermind 2010, answering questions on Paul Nash, and in 2012 he was a finalist for the Neo Print Prize and the Flourish Print Award.

Open 11am-4.30pm, Farfield is offering free entry every Sunday until December 22.

The A684 is closed until Christmas at Garsdale. However, this does not affect Farfield Mill, which is open daily as usual. Those visiting from the Hawes direction need to travel to Farfield via Kirkby Stephen.

For further information telephone 015396-21958.