Photo: Corridor of Flowers - Bath Flower Market by Terese Lessore, c.1930s. See below for full credits.

The Glory Of The Garden: Flowers and Gardens in Art is on show at the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate until September 5.

Planned to celebrate Harrogate and nearby Darley’s bid to win the international Entente Florale 2004 compeitition, the exhibition includes works by David Hockney, Atkinson Grimshaw, Anne Redpath and Paul Nash.

This year Britain in Bloom has nominated Harrogate and Darley to represent the nation in the Europe in Bloom competition and, not wishing to miss out on the occasion, the North Gallery at the Mercer Art Gallery is ablaze with colour.

Photo: Yorkshire Home by Atkinson Grimshaw, 1878.

All summer long, a vast number of works will be on display, showcasing fine and decorative art united by the theme of flowers and gardens.

"The Glory of the Garden exhibition highlights some of the best works from the gallery’s permanent collection, and some exciting works on loan from private owners", said curator of art, Jane Sellars.

One well-known treasure from the gallery’s collection is Atkinson Grimshaw’s (1836-1893) A Yorkshire Home. Its melancholy Autumnal garden, contrasts with the vivid colours of Ivon Hitchens’ Tangled Pool.

Photo: Tangled Pool by Ivon Hitchens, 1948.

Perhaps the most famous artist from the modern era to be exhibited is David Hockney and the show includes his prints Black Tulips and Agave Plant, on loan from a private collection.

There are also some lesser-known paintings appearing alongside some of the gallery’s more famous works.

Herbert Richter’s The Indian Shawl, a vibrant painting of summer flowers in a domestic interior, is joined by Anne Redpath’s Flower Study.

Photo: Cactus by Paul Nash, 1928.

A wealth of work by female artists including Anna Airey, Francoise Boudet, and Therese Lessore is accompanied by Nerys Johnson’s vibrant watercolour studies of tulips, sweet peas, irises, crocuses and petunias.

Delicate, rarely seen objects from the decorative art collections also make a flowery summer display, from gentlemen’s embroidered silk waistcoats and elegant beaded purses to decorated ceramics and glass.

All Images © The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate Museums and Arts.