GRINTON artist John Hunter is celebrating a double success after having all of his submissions accepted for display at the Mall Galleries, London in July, and also the successful launch of a solo show at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, which features 27 of his original watercolour, gouache and pencil aviation artworks. The exhibition runs until the end of July.

He said: “It is a great honour to be asked to exhibit at the club, whose walls are adorned with some of the greatest aviation art of the 20th century, by artists such as Frank Wooton, Terence Cuneo, and David Shepherd, whose daughter Mandy co-ordinated hanging my show."

The preview night reception, officially opened by Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards, augured well with six of the works selling – two bought by the club – and much interest shown in the wide range of topics represented in the exhibition.

Another work depicting the first DFC to be awarded to a female pilot will feature in a new centenary celebration book, and another of his works is to be presented as an annual award for aviation excellence at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC.

“The exhibition opening was a wonderful occasion, with among the invited guests, the widow of world famous artist, Wilf Hardy – my single biggest influence and inspiration, and also my best friend from school who I haven’t met for 40 years.”

The artist recently held a one-man exhibition at Richmond Station where a cross-section of more than 50 of his paintings were shown. He also exhibited at East Windy Hall Gallery in Reeth as part of Swaledale Festival.