An exhibition of new paintings and screen prints by Ian Scott Massie opens tomorrow in Hereford Cathedral.

Places of Pilgrimage: The Marches is an exhibition by Yorkshire-based artist Ian Scott Massie. For the last year he has been visiting special places in the Marches which draw people for different reasons, whether it is to stand where Ralph Vaughan Williams first conducted The Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis in Gloucester Cathedral, to walk on Wenlock Edge where Houseman drew his inspiration, to see Ironbridge Gorge, the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, or look to Wales from the heights of Symonds Yat.

For many year’s Ian’s work has comprised finding special places and exploring their personality in paint and print. His last touring exhibition, which directly inspired this one, was encapsulated in the book Places of Pilgrimage published by SPCK. His atmospheric watercolours recall the style of the British Romantic movement and, through strong colour, a clear sense of light and sensitive draughtsmanship, he imbues landscapes and architecture with a subtle sense of inner meaning. His screen prints draw on the stylistic heritage of the railway posters of the 1930s, with clean lines and a limited palette.

Ian’s exhibitions over the last few years have included paintings inspired by stories from the Yorkshire Dales, pictures of places written about by Wordsworth and an artist’s view of the landscaped gardens around Fountains Abbey. This exhibition includes a number of famous regional subjects - the Ludlow townscape, Much Wenlock Priory and Stokesay Castle - but Ian’s travels have also taken him to some lesser known gems such as Arthur’s Stone, Deerhurst Priory and Abbey Dore. The exhibition will move through four venues: the magnificent church of St Laurence, Ludlow, Hereford Cathedral, the ancient foundation of Shrewsbury Abbey and Worcester Cathedral, and will feature a number of works created particularly for each of these places.

The exhibition was the brainchild of Rory Chase, chair of the Conservation Trust for St Laurence, Ludlow, who first came across Ian’s work when it was used as the cover art for the novels of Catherine Fox.

The exhibition in Hereford Cathedral, held in support of The Conservation Trust for St Laurence, Ludlow, is sited in the atmospheric North Transept and will open with a preview at 6.30 tonight, and will continue until June 22. Subjects close to the cathedral in Ian’s paintings include the Victoria and Wye bridges, Kilpeck church and cider apple orchards.