A PAINTING by North Yorkshire artist John Hunter has been chosen by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust as its official Christmas card.

His work was spotted at a function in the summer at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, where he and his wife, Jane, manned a stall selling his aviation pictures.

"We noticed a young lady taking particular interest in a Christmas painting I had produced for the base’s firefighting museum a few years ago featuring a Lancaster and Vulcan."

Interest was expressed in use of the image and Mr Hunter sent this and a couple of Christmas paintings for perusal by the charity.

"We were quite surprised when they chose instead my painting of St Andrew’s Church, Grinton," he said. "Apparently, the low-flying Chinook and bright red post box were the 'deal clincher' in their office.”

The cards will be on sale during the RAF massed bands pre-Christmas concert tour, which sets off today at the Royal Hall in Harrogate followed by The Sage at Gateshead on Sunday, and at functions next year including air displays.

Mr Hunter, a former music teacher, and his wife run East Mill House bed and breakfast in Grinton. He has an adjoining studio where he works on commissions for aviation and rural pictures and portraits. He also plays jazz on piano around the area.

In July he had another successful exhibition in the Mall Galleries, London, and will show about 50 pictures and drawings in a one-man exhibition at the Station, Richmond, next spring. His work can be viewed online at HunterArt.co.uk. Email hunterart@btinternet.com for more information.