IF ever there was a book that epitomised the characters and characteristics of the county’s agricultural shows it has to be this.

Captured in stunning black and white photography, farmers coiffeur their sheep and tug their prize-winning animals into the showground - and when it’s all over take a well deserved cat-nap in the stalls - in this wonderfully captivating book.

For those who toil away polishing and preening their four-legged friends then The Country Shows of North Yorkshire is the perfect book for you.

Readers can glean a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the goings-on, the preparations and those wonderful moments captured by a documentary photographer portraying the beauty that is life through a lens.

With a foreward by Amanda Owen, author of The Yorkshire Shepherdess, Ian Forsyth’s book tells the story of the North Yorkshire shows, including one of the biggest calendar occasions, the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate.

The project began in 2012 and over the following years Ian has captured personal images of people involved, from those showing their livestock to the spectators who flock to savour the heritage and tradition.

Personal snapshots, among them a couple of cheerful business professionals raise their cups for the camera, sit side by side with an arty shot of funky wellies.

One of my favourites features a welly-clad youngster with his back to the camera as he peeps through a gap in the judging tent.

In another shot a farmer is hosing down his cow possibly in preparation for its appearance before the judges, or may be to cool down after the showing day is done.

A young girl smartly dressed in a crisp white smock keeps her pig close by in the show ring, while a rider comes nose to nose with her four-legged steed

Pals sipping from lager cans on a bench with brollies and rucksacks abandoned as they take advantage of a chance to rest and relax features among the many page-turning images showcasing the characters and the characteristics of a county we all know and love.

Pigs and sheep are lovingly patted by their companions - one endearing image is of a young girl, dressed in a white smock and matching coloured sun hat gently putting her pig in its place in the sty.

An artistic image of an intricately plaited mane sits page to page with a shot of a farmer resting on his stick seat surveying the showground.

Pals in panamas sit deep in conversation on a straw bale while a farmer puts the finishing touches to his goat’s short back and sides!

At Ryedale Agricultural show a horsewoman appears to be passing on some words of encouragement to her pony.

There are plenty of action shots too including the wonderful image of a shire horse appearing to be cantering towards the camera and two unruly looking rams being rounded up in the show ring.

At Stokesley Agricultural show, a pair of cows curiously glance at the sponge and bucket as they await their fate at the cattle wash while three farmers appear to be sharing a joke in the show ring as they stand beside their beasts.

A smartly dressed rider puts the finishing touches to her appearance, checking out her reflection in a car window to assist with tying her tie.

Every picture tells a story and Ian’s stunning photography captures the heart of country life. It is a wonderful book and should appeal to a wide range of readers.

Published by Amberley Publishing, ‘The Country Shows of North Yorkshire’ is priced at £16.99 and is available from Waterstones, Bradford, Harrogate and Leeds; the 1853 Gallery in Saltaire and the Keighley and Worth Valley railway shops.