The latest stage in a partnership between a leading artist and one of the district’s best-known pub restaurants has been marked with an exhibition of paintings.

Ilkley artist Ian Middleton has worked with the owners of the Ring O’Bells at Thornton, Bradford, to provide diners with something attractive to look at as well as eat since 2009.

Mr Middleton, who specialises in Expressionism, previews his work on the walls of the pub’s award-winning restaurant before it is released, mainly into private collections throughout the UK and Europe. Many of his paintings are also available in limited edition prints.

This arrangement followed the initial success of a permanent display, dubbed the ‘Art of Dining,’ which was commissioned by Ring O’Bells owners Ann and Clive Preston, which mainly featured a food and wine theme along with humourous works to create a more light-hearted dining experience.

Specialist exhibitions have also been introduced to coincide with some of the varied dining themes at the Ring O’Bell’s.

Owner Ann Preston said: “We are always trying to do something different and Ian’s work is intended to create a more interesting, even unique dining experience in our restaurant.

“We have developed and evolved the chosen themes and one of Ian’s works is always given pride of place under the spotlight. His paintings have certainly brightened up the place and judging by feedback to date, they are going down a treat – just like our food! “ In the adjoining bar brasserie, displays of old framed prints depicting Thornton village life in the last century are creating interest. They have been reproduced from pictures loaned by the family of Joseph Shackleton, a Thornton photographer in the 1900s and former president of Bradford Camera Club.