Yorkshire’s chequered landscape and rugged coastline has inspired many artists to re-create its breathtaking views on canvas.

David Hockney, regarded as one of the world’s greatest living artists, was born in Bradford, and the district and other areas of Yorkshire have appeared in some of his famous artworks.

In and around Hockney’s home city there are many more up-and-coming artists pursuing their passion for art as a pastime or as a profession – and a large number of those are women.

Some picked up their paintbrushes and palettes to combat the ‘empty nest syndrome’ they experienced when their offspring left home to study or settle down. Others talk about the therapeutic benefit art has brought them.

Watercolourist Sue Brearley’s bold 3D paintings, some embellished with sand and driftwood she brings home from coastal strolls, explore the mysterious and moody magic of God’s own county.

“When you’re out in the Yorkshire landscape you’re totally seduced,” she says. “It’s so moody and magic. I love the old buildings. I used ink quite a lot once because it just runs and it gives you this mood magic. It captures the mood and the atmosphere.”

Her flexibility is evident in her work. “I’m doing a dragonfly; it’s so beautiful. I can see art in very tiny things – not just broad sweeping landscapes,” she says.

Sue’s interest in art developed through drawing as a child, although her flair could be inherited as one of her ancestors was a Royal Academy artist in the 19th century. She studied art while training to be a teacher, but never actually taught it. “If you do it for a living you don’t want to do it for fun,” she says. “It’s a relief from the monotony of ironing, cooking and being on the treadmill.”

Retirement has given Sue greater opportunity to concentrate on art. She’s a member of Menston Art Club and has received requests from people who have seen her work.

Painting has also been Sue’s therapy. Her 17-year-old son was killed in a road accident three years ago.

Sue, who also has a daughter, describes her son’s death as ‘heart numbing’. She escaped into painting and drawing.

“Painting is a therapy. It has always been there,” says Sue.

Otley artist Elizabeth Waterhouse was in her late 30s when she discovered her hidden talent. The death of her mother, who she had cared for, was the impetus for her to pick up a paintbrush. She joined a local art group and won an award for her work in the first year. “It just springboarded from there,” says Elizabeth, who believes art comes from the heart.

She describes her vibrant coloured paintings as ‘Old Holland’ style. She finds some of her inspiration in the gardens her husband works in. Some of her mixed media work – she uses pen and ink and watercolour – has gone into private collections.

“It’s an old fashioned style with a quirky contemporary take,” Elizabeth explains. “Painting is like an energy, a life force. Once you have it, you shouldn’t lose it.”

Writing is another creative outlet for Elizabeth, who has penned a children’s story and is currently working on a thriller novel. She has also taught herself to play the piano to Grade 2 level.

The unlikely inspiration of vegetables is what drives Michele Raisin. She says the vibrancy and colour of peppers makes her passionate about them, and her husband is now used to sitting down to a table of painted cauliflowers and peppers!

Michele loves the bold colours and, being a potter as well, she loves texture, often incorporating Modroc into her work.

She loves natural objects. Fish are another favourite. “We have a house in Turkey and it’s the most fabulous, beautiful place for any artist. It’s so vibrant and full of life – and veg!” she laughs.

She’s also inspired by Turkish fish markets and rugged-looking seamen standing in their boats brandishing their nets.

“I like natural objects; shells and plants,” says Michele, whose interest in art stems from her schooldays. She took an art course after leaving school and trained to be an art teacher. She now works as a supply teacher. Art is a pleasant pastime. “I find it exciting. I’m an effervescent sort of person and it makes me worse!” she laughs. “When I’m painting I don’t hear the telephone ringing. It keeps me completely occupied.”

Sheila Venamore and Joy Godfrey were successful in art at school but didn’t pursue it seriously until later in life.

Sheila won an art competition when she was eight. The prize was a family trip to the cinema. “Every Christmas I would get art things, pastels and pencils,” she says. “Then I did art O-level at school. I went off track a bit, doing some window dressing.”

Marriage and motherhood took her away from her art but, five years ago, she had the opportunity to pick it back up again when, aged 45, she went to Harrogate College to do a computer course.

While there, Sheila was given the chance to study fine art and photography. “I came out with a triple distinction,” she says, proudly. “I passed my computer course but I didn’t want to sit at a computer so I went down the other route.”

Sheila has a studio at the Harrogate company where she works as a receptionist. She has exhibited her work in an open exhibition at the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate but says painting is mainly for pleasure. She loves painting Mardi Gras masks, inspired by a trip to Venice, and the ancient buildings of the Italian city. “I just love anything to do with Venice,” she says.

“I love the mystery, the intrigue and the glamour. It has everything rolled into one.”

Joy shares her creative flair with her sister, Christine Bailey. Joy’s passion is art; Christine’s is pottery and ceramics. The siblings’ studios are on the same street in Ilkley. They are currently collaborating in an exhibition at the Cavendish Pavilion on the Bolton Abbey estate.

Joy says their skill comes from their mother, a professional dressmaker. Joy is also a dab hand with a needle. She created her children’s wedding outfits and often runs up evening dresses for overseas trips.

She seized the opportunity to pick up her paintbrush when she returned to the classroom aged 36. “I was always top in art at school. I always got As and I probably should have gone to art school but in the late 1950s there was a cautious atmosphere about all this,” she says. “Women on the whole were brought up to find a nice husband and have a safe secretarial training.”

She kept up her painting at evening classes. At 32 she was accepted into St Alban’s School of Art but when her husband’s work prompted a move to Yorkshire, her place was transferred to Bradford College of Art. “It was quite nerve wracking to start with. I used to think they’d think I was another lecturer!”

Now 72, Joy has experimented with different art forms, including bronze sculpting and silk screen printing. “You have to work things out a bit in advance. You have to work out which bits you want, the sky, the shape of the trees and the colours. It’s all done in layers,” says Joy, referring to silk screen printing. “You have to have a jigsaw puzzle brain and be flexible at the same time.”

She has dabbled with stained glass art too. “I think I’m settling down now to more or less painting but I will keep on with the silk screen printing. I don’t do it every day because it is very intensive,” she says.

Joy says art is a ‘constant challenge’. “I’ve got the energy and the will to do it. I just want to do something a lot more dynamic with my life. “It’s not easy painting. David Hockney summed it up – he has done a lot of paintings of East Yorkshire and they really come to life. A painting captures the essence of landscape in a far better way than a camera.”

Lorain Behrens has had a passion for art since she was nine. Her interest over the years has led her to experiment with mixed media.

“Ten years ago I received a watercolour set as a present and I started going to an art group in Baildon,” she says.

The Menston mum-of-two dabbled with watercolour and when her youngest son started school she enrolled on some art courses.

In 2002 she did an art access course for mature students at Shipley College and discovered an interest in creative textiles, which led to her setting up Unique Arts in Thornton, enabling local artists to showcase their work. She also teaches art at an after-school club in Guiseley.

Altered art is her favoured form, bringing re-cycled books, ceramic tiles and junk to life in an artistic way.

Lorain, 46, hopes to develop her hobby and has already sold a few things through the Unique Arts shop. “It’s a real buzz when someone has bought something you have made,” says Lorain.

“Some of the things have found their way to Canada, Australia and various other parts of the world.”