AN artist is set to stage an exhibition inspired by JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings to coincide with the release of the final film in The Hobbit series.

John Cockshaw will unveil the results of seven years' work at The Curzon cinema, in Ripon, alongside artworks Canadian technical illustrator Ted Nasmith and Polish graphite artist Katarzyna Chmiel-Gugulska on Saturday, December 13, in a show that will run until January 31.

The Ripon-based artist, who uses photo manipulation in his work, said the free entry Now Far Ahead The Road Has Gone exhibition would open days before the final instalment of The Hobbit - The Battle of the Five Armies - is screened at the North Street venue.

Mr Cockshaw, who has exhibited his fantasy artwork from Seville to São Paolo, said: "The exhibition is designed to bring together three diverse styles of art inspired from the same starting point."