Ilkley fountain: Artists donate work to fountain auction

The design will use gravity to feed water which running down from from Ilkley Moor through the fountain

Organisers of an auction to raise funds for the Ilkley fountain project have praised the "incredible response" of the artist community.

Twenty-seven artists donated moorland-inspired work to be auctioned at the town's Tinker Gallery on 20 April.

The fountain will be a 5ft (1.5m) galvanised steel structure located at the top of Brook Street in Ilkley.

Louise Hepworth-Wood from the Improving Ilkley charity said support for the project had been "wonderful".

Improving Ilkley, which is behind the fountain project, was established in 2021 to "identify, fund and deliver projects when enhance, preserve and benefit the Ilkley area".

The works will be on show at the gallery from 4 to 20 April, with visitors able to offer a bid before the auction is held.

A version of the water feature will also be entered into the auction.

Clare Haley's Northern Light and Aurora Plomer's Ilkley Moor are among the works being auctioned

Ms Hepworth-Wood said: "It is so wonderful that the artist community has come together in support of our project.

"The response has been incredible."

The gallery will be open from Wednesday to Saturday throughout the exhibition, with the auction taking place at 14:00 BST on 20 April.

Artist Joanne Tinker, who is the owner of the Tinker Gallery, said the fountain was a "stunning and very appropriate landmark for Ilkley's town centre".

The water feature was designed by Juliet Gutch and created by James Wilkinson, who is based near Boroughbridge.

Anyone who successfully bids more than £250 will become a "keystone donor" to the project and will be invited to have their name permanently marked at the fountain site, along with the artists who have donated work.