CRAVEN Museum and Gallery has its first ever artist in residence.

Cross Hills-based David Thomas, who has 20 years' experience of producing paintings and drawings, mostly on a still life theme, will be based at the Skipton Town Hall museum until November.

Mr Thomas has been living and working as an artist and teacher in the area for 18 years and shares a workshop and studio with his wife, ceramic artist Anna Lambert, in Cross Hills.

He said: "I plan to be in the museum regularly during the residency, drawing and photographing the collections and making preliminary studies for paintings to be finished in my studio.

"I've had a long fascination with museum displays and record both every day and mysterious objects through drawing.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to study parts of the collection usually held in store."

The residency, which has been supported by the Arts Council and Craven District Council, will culminate in an exhibition at the museum in January 2008.

Mr Thomas will be encouraging museum visitors to draw or write about what inspires them from the collection and the results will feature in the display.