THOUSANDS of artists and art enthusiasts are making the pilgrimage to Ilkley's King's Hall this week for the major summer art exhibition.

The British Watercolour Society and British Society of Miniaturists Summer Exhi-bition boasted 1,250 paintings by 175 artists when it opened its doors to the public on Saturday morning.

The exhibition was opened at 11am by television producer Johnnie Hamp, who was introduced by former member of The Grumbleweeds, Maurice Lee.

Mr Hamp devised and produced more than 2,000 programmes during his television career - including series The Comedians, which launched the careers of a number of stand-up comedians.

Cheshire-based Mr Hamp was on his first visit to the Ilkley area, and was showing six of his own paintings in the show.

He told the Gazette: "Ilkley is a delightful place."

In his opening speech, he told fellow artists and art enthusiasts about his early struggles to master painting techniques and become a leading figure in the art world.

Exhibition organiser, Leslie Simpson, also exhibited his own work, and saw 15 of his popular 'Whimseycollies' paintings sell within the first two hours of the show.

Mr Simpson, 73, is himself an established portrait painter, and has been organising the exhibitions in Ilkley since February 1981.

Mr Simpson expects the exhibition to attract more than 5,000 people in total to the town.

The exhibition continues at the King's Hall and Winter Garden, Station Road, until Sunday (June 15), and is open daily from noon to 5pm.

Admission to the event costs £2.50.