Tag: Yorkshire

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Genuine Fake Monet at Leeds Art Gallery, Yorkshire

In the photograph above you can see artist John Myatt next to one of his genuine fakes, this one a Monet.

John Myatt was here to discuss some of his work and life here at the Smart Gallery, Leeds. Unlike many painters working today his life really is worth discussing. I already knew something of John before I saw him recently on the BBC chatting about his work and life.

John is perhaps best known today as an art forger placed an advert in Private Eye (UK satirical magazine) “Genuine fakes. Nineteen and twentieth century paintings from £150”. What seemed like a good idea at the time led to his downfall and he was eventually arrested and jailed for one year, serving four months for conspiracy to defraud.

I would dearly love to own one of his art works they really are very good. His paintings in the “style of” Claude Monet, Marc Chagall, Vincent Van Gogh to name but a few were good enough to fool people.

After his release from prison the Scotland Yard detective who arrested him asked him to paint a picture, later becoming a friend.

Today John paints on the right side of the law and his ‘Legitimate Fakes’ command thousands of pounds and are collected in their own right.

I was pleased to meet and have a few words with John and as you can see he was kind and posed for my camera.

Lois said…
What an interesting individual!

JUNE 30, 2009 2:08 PM
Steffe said…
Very interesting read. I think I have seen him on TV. I’d also like to own one of his fakes, great portrait of the man.

JULY 1, 2009 11:00 AM
Leif Hagen said…
Great foto – interesting story! I also would love to own one of his “fakes!” I was just in Birmingham for a Rotary Intl meeting. Close to Leeds?

JULY 2, 2009 12:18 PM

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Zack and John Above Arncliffe in Yorkshire

In this photograph are my good friends Zack and John, in the distance is Arncliffe, a small village in Littondale, North Yorkshire.

This photo was taken a couple of summers ago, when I took the two of them walking from Malham over the moor to Arncliffe. I think it is probable that neither Zack nor John had any idea how big Yorkshire is when you are on foot. When we arrived back at the car both of them had a much better idea.

By the end of of the day I think we walked around 15 miles, not the most direct route. Not bad considering it is cross country and up hill and down dale and at least two of our party did not realise you could travel 15 miles without a car!

Arncliffe was the original setting for the fictional village of Beckindale in the ITV soap Emmerdale Farm. I used to watch it back in its early days and learnt quite a bit about Yorkshire long before I moved up here.

Emmerdale Farm was filmed in the village of Esholt from 1976 a village between Shipley and Guiseley.

Today the renamed (1989) Emmerdale is filmed on a purpose built set, located on the Harewood estate where it has been since 1998.

Abe Lincoln said…
If there is anything more fascinating about your country then I don’t know it. I have, for years, been thinking in terms of Robin Hood and Sherwood forest. And I envisioned a flat plain with humongous oak trees from shore to shore. Then I see your views and Tom’s, of Wigger’s World, and realize it has lots of hills and dales and some, like this scene, are way up there. Those poor dudes must have been chafed in the groin by the time they made it safely back to their car. And the beauty of the scene is the little tiny houses at the bottom. It surely must also mean some really great flying for those who jump off cliffs and sledding for those on a suicide mission.

JUNE 23, 2009 12:18 PM
Lois said…
Looks like beautiful countryside!

JUNE 23, 2009 1:49 PM
Steffe said…
I think I watched one or two episodes, but it was more a show that my parents watched. Walking in nature is always rewarding. Doing it with a couple of friends, even better.

JUNE 23, 2009 7:50 PM

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Meet Archie the Airedale, Leeds

Picture of Archie an Airedale Terrier on Briggate, Leeds in Yorkshire.

Yesterday there was a meet the police day in Leeds city centre held on Briggate but my picture today is of a civilian dog, Archie.

Archie is an Airedale Terrier and he is 3 years old and of a curious and friendly nature. The Airedale Terrier is a local breed of dog from Airedale not far from Leeds here in Yorkshire. The owner of the Airedale told something I did not know and that was that before the German Shepherd became the dog of choice the Airedale was commonly used as a police dog. As Airedale Terriers go Archie is smaller than some of the larger dogs of the breed.

I choice this frame because it gives an idea of how busy Briggate was on Saturday, as seen from a dogs view.

Lois said…
Nice to meet you Archie!

JUNE 13, 2011 12:30 AM
RedPat said…
I have had 2 Airedales and both of them were wonderful – the most friendly of dogs. I like that Archie is rather scruffy looking rather than groomed to the nines! You made my day with this pic.

JUNE 13, 2011 10:21 PM
Winchester Daily Photos said…
Sweet looking dog!

JUNE 14, 2011 5:59 PM

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Granite Setts in Leeds, Yorkshire

Picture of granite setts being re-laid in Leeds, Yorkshire.

This afternoon whilst walking back from Leeds parish church towards Briggate I noticed some minor construction taking place. The builders were relaying a stretch of granite setts on some railway property adjacent to railway arches just across from Cross York Street at the junction with Kirkgate.

The above photo shows some setts having been laid and bedded in so the paved area will be more or less flat. To achieve this they are using some basic tools a shovel, spirit level, lump hammer, bucket and an iron bar (bit like a flat jemmy).

Setts are a bit like cobblestones but the stone is quarried and cut to either a square or rectangular shape as opposed to naturally occurring shapes.

The photo was a little awkward to get because I had to put my camera between some iron railings to get the picture. Nearly all construction in cities like Leeds is now done behind hoardings or some other barrier to protect the public.

Lucy Corrander : Photos said…
It’ll be a historic picture, this.

Laying of setts is a persisting skill that surprises me.

Lucy

JUNE 10, 2011 7:37 AM

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Air Quality Monitoring Station – Leeds Centre, Yorkshire

Picture of air quality monitoring station – Leeds centre.

This green metal container located just off Woodhouse Lane between Queens Square Court and the Woodhouse Lane Car Park is an air quality monitoring station.

There are 2 of these air quality monitoring stations, part of a national network of 132 run by DEFRA, here in Leeds. This station is part of the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) and it measures oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO) and particles (PM10).

In the background of the photograph behind the air quality monitoring station can been seen part of the Woodhouse Lane car park.

Steffe said…
Interesting. Never seen such a container in my neck of the woods.

MARCH 14, 2011 10:30 AM
Llandudno Daily Pictures said…
I always wonder what these odd municipal bits and bobs are for. Now I know of one extra possibility!

MARCH 14, 2011 10:54 AM
Winchester Daily Photos said…
Fascinating post! When I lived near Heathrow Airport we had a noise monitoring ‘thing’ in our garden for about 6 months (nothing as big as this!). I think the conclusion of the study was – yes Heathrow is noisy.

MARCH 14, 2011 7:25 PM

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Oakwood Clock Leeds, Yorkshire

Picture of Oakwood Clock Leeds.

This tall and ornate clock tower by Leeds clock-makers Wm Potts and sons was built for Kirkgate Market in Leeds, was rejected as unsuitable for the market and later erected here in the Leeds district of Oakwood in 1912.

Standing atop the clock tower is the symbol of the city of Leeds, an owl.

I took this photo on one of those cloudy days with occasional bright sunshine coming through the clouds.

Sailor said…
Thats a beautiful clock tower.

MARCH 26, 2011 10:59 PM

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Busking in the Leeds Sunshine, Yorkshire

Picture of busker on Briggate in Leeds city centre, Yorkshire.

This last few days the weather here in Leeds has been very sunny and warm too.

Here on Briggate I said hi to someone I have not seen for some months, Holoman who hails from the US but now is part of the Leeds music scene. Here in the city of Leeds we have I think some of the best street musicians around and in my view Holoman is up there with the very best.

Holoman has a great voice and knows how to give a good performance and on this sunny afternoon there were quite a few people stopped to catch some of his songs.

Dianne said…
Good to see the sun shining in Leeds! Street artists add so much atmosphere to a City.

APRIL 10, 2011 11:46 PM
RedPat said…
It looks like it is a wonderful day to be singing on the street!

APRIL 11, 2011 1:27 AM
TheChieftess said…
Looks like a fun day!!!

APRIL 11, 2011 4:25 PM

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BBC Antiques Roadshow Saltaire, Yorkshire

Picture of BBC filming Antiques Roadshow Saltaire in Yorkshire.

Last Spring the BBC came to Yorkshire to film episodes of the Antiques Roadshow, firstly in Saltaire, then the next town on their schedule Beverley in E Yorkshire.

They split the Saltaire Antiques Roadshow into 2 parts, one shown on Sunday just gone and part 2 will be shown this coming Sunday evening. You can still catch the first part of the Saltaire edition of the Antiques Roadshow on BBC iplayer.

I was invited to Beverley for the filming but could not make it. Since then I have been invited by the BBC to Frankenstein’s Wedding…Live in Leeds.

The more observant might just recognise Fiona Bruce the TV presenter, looking her up on Wikipedia I have just discovered that she was named as Rear of the Year for 2010. Rightly or wrongly Fiona is in great company previous winners include Felicity Kendal, Anneka Rice and Leeds girl Nell McAndrew.

TheChieftess said…
Great shot!!!

MARCH 15, 2011 12:59 AM

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Statue Sir Peter Fairbairn – Leeds

Like the similar Victorian statue of Duke of Wellington on Woodhouse Moor in Leeds this statue has I think suffered at the hands of students. Although a traffic cone is easily removed also the road sign resting on the plinth.

This statue is of Sir Peter Fairbairn who was mayor of Leeds at the time Queen Victoria opened Leeds Town Hall and at the ceremony the Queen knighted him.

The statue in bronze by Yorkshire sculptor Matthew Noble was erected in 1868 in the prosperous Woodhouse Square not far from the Leeds General Infirmary.

The son of Sir Peter Fairbairn also became mayor of Leeds and an MP for Otley as well as being chairman of the Leeds School Board.

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Broadcasting Tower, Broadcasting Place, Leeds

This photo is another view of Broadcasting Tower, on Broadcasting Place part of the Leeds Metropolitan University campus here in Leeds, Yorkshire.

This view of Broadcasting Tower is looking at the structure from the base sideways on and really highlights the unusual design of the new building on the Leeds skyline.