TEESDALE artist Andy Beck has won an award after reproducing 1,500 of Alfred Wainwright's famous Lakeland fells sketches in watercolour.

The artist, who lives at Bowes, spent ten years taking photographs from the same spots where the famous fell walker stood for his seven pictorial guides more than 60 years ago.

The resulting Wainwrights in Colour was shortlisted in the Outdoor Book of the Year category for The Great Outdoors Magazine. Mr Beck, 59, was one of 13 finalists in the category.

Only 5,000 copies of the limited edition book, individually numbered and signed, have been printed and allocated to 21 independent book shops. More than 1,800 have been sold.

The "labour of love" involved making two rounds of the 214 Wainwright fells, totalling 1,746 miles and ascending 580,000ft.

He said: "I was impressed and surprised to say the least because there were some very good contenders and I know some have sold an awful lot more books than me."

There is a companion short film on his adventures and the artist has given talks about his experiences, many for charitable causes.

He praised his wife, Esther, for her help and support which included proof reading the final copy.

Mr Beck had no formal training as an artist, merely an O-level in art, and is self-taught.

After serving in the RAF until 1988, he opened the Teesdale Gallery in Barnard Castle, which he ran for 20 years until 2013 when he closed it in order to concentrate on completing his project.