INTERNATIONAL singing star Anne Nolan was treated to a day of sampling Ilkley's attractions when she came to open a major art show in town at the weekend.

The singer, one of the original line-up of the Nolans, was the special guest invited to open the British Society of Painters' Autumn Exhibition at the Winter Garden on Saturday.

Anne Nolan today performs in the current line-up of The Nolans with sister Maureen, daughter Amy and her friend, Julia. The group is particularly successful in Japan, where an album of theirs recently hit Number One.

"Anne Nolan proved to be very pleasant and charming," said exhibition organiser, Ilkley artist Leslie Simpson. "She gave an excellent speech and was completely bowled over with the sheer ambience and beauty of the Winter Gardens and the Kings Hall, and the many beautiful paintings on show.

He said the singer was 'absolutely delighted' with Ilkley, which she has never visited before, and after enjoying lunch at La Sila Italian restaurant, she spent the afternoon shopping in town, and was later seen with bags and packages from local shops.

And she said she plans to come back to Ilkley, said Mr Simpson.

Anne Nolan was welcomed to Ilkley by another singing celebrity, Maurice Lee, of The Grumbleweeds fame. The locally-based celebrity has become the new president of the International Guild of Artists - the umbrella name for the three national art societies based in Ilkley - and succeeds Burley Woodhead resident and Channel Four's Countdown host, Richard Whiteley, who died recently.

Mr Simpson said the exhibition, which runs until Sunday, got off to a good start, with a brisk beginning to the sale of paintings. The exhibition features hundreds of original paintings from many notable artists, including recognised local names. Special guest, wildlife artist Robert J Fuller, was said to be the star of the show, although Ilkley's Jonathan Shaw was the first to sell at the exhibition, when two of his prize-winning paintings were quickly snapped up.

As ever, says Mr Simpson, his own light-hearted Whimseycollies paintings were in the lead in the sales race. The exhibition is open daily from noon until 5pm, and entry costs £2.50 per person, including a free catalogue.

Meanwhile, Mr Simpson's colourful new book, Ollie the Whimseycollie and the Sheep Rustlers, will be launched at the Grove Bookshop in Ilkley on September 24.

Mr Simpson promised to hold his first book signing session for the title at The Grove.

He will also be visiting Harrogate that afternoon to sign copies of the book, and plans to visit Ottaker;s Bookshops in Darlington, Northallerton, Wakefield, Lancaster, Meadowhall, Milton Keynes and Worthing.