LEEDS United boss David O'Leary heads for Ilkley later this month to enjoy an artistic breather from the Premiership title race.

The Elland Road chief apparently needs some Yorkshire paintings to cover the walls of his new home.

He will be visiting The British Society of Painters Spring Exhibition at the Kings Hall/Winter Gardens on Sunday March 19.

Leslie Simpson, the Ilkley-based director of the popular exhibition, is delighted with the news.

He said the amiable Irishman and his London-born wife had lived in the capital for 20 years while he was a player with Arsenal.

However both were now happy in Yorkshire he added

Mr O'Leary transferred to Leeds United during the summer of 1993 and headed north with his family.

Mr Simpson said: "Since moving to Leeds, they have discovered the delightful countryside which makes up the Yorkshire Dales.

"Therefore he will be delighting several lucky artists at this exhibition, as he needs quite a few paintings to cover the bare walls of his new home, which depicts this delightful Yorkshire scenery."

As well as a spot of home furnishing, there is a more serious element to Mr O'Leary's visit.

He will choose a prize winner from among the 200 artists on show on behalf of Norma Mosley, who presents the Bryan Mosley Memorial Prize.

Mr Mosley, well known to Coronation Street fans as Alf Roberts, was a keen supporter of the Ilkley event.

The exhibition runs from March 18 to 26.

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