AN ARTIST who takes his inspiration from the peat moors of the North Pennines has started a two-month exhibition at Bowlees Visitor Centre in Upper Teesdale.

Lionel Playford, who has a studio in Garrigill, near Alston, is showing art works inspired by the landscape that covers more than 900 sq km of the area in outstanding natural beauty.

He has been involved in a collaboration with Northumbria University looking at how landscape art might be affected by an understanding of the science of climate change.

Aided by a grant from the Leverhulme Trust, the artist has focused his exhibition on how the weather interacts with the land.

He said: “This art residency contrasts science’s objective measure of nature with my own, immersive experience.”

The works use a variety of mediums including peat, clay, moss and other found materials.

He has also made “paper clouds” from grasses and mosses.

Many of the images are for sale.

The exhibition is the first of a series planned for venues in the region.

The visitor centre is open daily from 9am to 6pm.

For information on the exhibition, visit visitbowlees.org.uk and lionelplayford.net