Artist’s images keep the spirit of Tour alive despite postponement
THE TOUR de Yorkshire may have been postponed for two years, but the event’s official artist has ensured that the cycling extravaganza continues to delight and inspire.
Claire Baxter has created six images honouring “the diversity, grandeur and splendour” of Yorkshire and capturing the “spirit and excitement” of the race from the perspectives of the riders and the spectators, both young and old.
The artist, who is based at her Pateley Bridge gallery and works predominantly in oils, has painted locations including the Dales, moors, coast, townscapes and landscapes drawn from North, South, East and West Yorkshire in her distinctive style.
Her Tour de Yorkshire ‘ Tour Baht’at’ paintings and prints include locations from across the county including Barnsley Town Hall, Ilkley’s Cow and Calf Rocks, Sandsend, Ribblehead Viaduct, Beverley, and Shibden Wall, Calderdale.
She said: “I was excited and honoured to be announced as the Official Artist for the Tour de Yorkshire 2020 and despite the difficulties we have faced this year and postponement of the race itself, I am so pleased to finally release the six images
I have painted to celebrate this wonderful Yorkshire event.
“To get inspiration and a feel for the race I spent several days driving along different sections of the route which brought home to me how lucky I am to live in God’s Own County and how gruelling the Tour de Yorkshire is for the riders.
“It was difficult even to walk up some of the inclines. I am thrilled with the end result.”
This year’s Tour de Yorkshire, organised by tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire ( WtY) in partnership with Amaury Sport Organisation, has been postponed until 2022 because of Covid- 19.
The agency’s chief executive, James Mason, added: “We had no choice but to postpone this year’s Tour de Yorkshire but we’re delighted to have Claire’s incredible art work as a reminder of how fantastic this race is, why it is loved across the world and how it showcases the county in a spectacular way.
“There has never been a more important time to support independent artists and businesses, whilst celebrating the arts and sport.
“Welcome to Yorkshire are very much looking forward to continuing working with Claire as her impressive Tour de Yorkshire art is launched and we’re delighted that Claire will be the official artist of the Tour de Yorkshire in 2022.”
WtY says that the Tour de
Yorkshire – created following the 2014 Tour de France’s Grand Départ in the region – is of huge economic benefit to the county.
It has attracted four million roadside spectators, with 188 countries broadcasting the race live contributing to £ 330m worth of media coverage, said the agency.
Benefits for the county during the Tour de Yorkshire have included more than two and half million spectators along the route and a £ 98m economic impact in 2018, and television audience of 28 million in 190 countries last year, says WtF.
Already cancelled earlier this year due to sport and society being in lockdown, WtY had hoped to bring the race back in May, 2021.
But on Wednesday they announced the event will be postponed for a further year.
Claire’s art work is a reminder of how fantastic this race is. James Mason, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire.