'A Coastal Voyage in Watercolour (The Borders to The Humber), by Ron Thornton features 52 views from the likes of St Abbs, Eyemouth, Cove and Burnmouth to the north of the border and Berwick, Holy Island, Bamburgh, Seahouses and Beadnell to the south, as well as personal anecdotes and wry observations from Ron on the places he visited.

Ron is a self taught watercolourist, who at the age of 73, could now be described as an 'old master' of his chosen profession.

He was a natural artist as a young schoolboy in South Shields but only took up painting to 'relieve the boredom' of weekend duty as a young man doing national service with the RAF in Kent.

Ron went on to teach in South Tyneside, Hexham and Belford before retiring to become a full time painter in 1990.

He hasn't given up teaching entirely though and is involved in a number of regional painting classes.

Ron describes the technique of painting watercolours as being one of 'practice, perseverance and patience'. 'Thinking ahead' he says is the most important rule, watercolour does not wait and unlike oil or pastels, cannot be re-worked.

His work has become more collectible through the years, leading to a successful sell-out gallery exhibition at the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, featuring his images of the Tall Ships.

'A Coastal Voyage' has taken almost two years to complete and started when Ron toured the coast with his wife Ann, capturing on film something of the character and detail of each location then putting brush to paper at his studio in Riding Mill.

The artwork was then combined with Ron's notes and turned into a book thanks to Hexham based, Wagtail Press.

The book is now available for an RRP of £19.50 and Ron is staging an exhibition of the original watercolours from Monday, December 14- Saturday, December 19 in the Bewick Room, City Library, Newcastle.
For further information visit www.rwthornton.co.uk or www.wagtailpress.co.uk.