THE tranquil setting of Nunnington Hall, deep in the sheltered valley of the River Rye, is more used to playing host to coach tours and day trippers than international rock stars.

However, since May 1 the manor house has been displaying photographs by Canadian rock star Bryan Adams, the first time his work has been on show anywhere in the UK.

Yesterday, the man himself took time out from his UK tour to view the exhibition.

Adams, who is best known for hits such as Summer of 69 and the record-breaking ballad (Everything I do), I do it for you, has been making a name for himself as a photographer since the late 1990s. His exhibition, called Portfolio, features 30 shots of famous faces such as Mickey Rourke, Helena Bonham Carter and Keith Richards, as well as Tony Blair, the Pope and the Queen.

Adams yesterday told The Northern Echo that one of his favourite photographs in the exhibition is a picture he took of soul legend Ray Charles a year before he died.

"He is my idol," said Adams. "He was doing a show and I didn't have tickets, so I took my bike down and went to the back door and said hi.

"I asked if there was any chance I could come in and the security guards went and got his tour manager.

"The next thing I know I was hanging out with Ray Charles."

The exhibition came to Nunnington Hall, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, after property manager Simon Lee spotted Adams' work on show in the Canadian Embassy in London, and contacted him.

Portfolio will be at Nunnington until June 10, before travelling to the Hungarian capital of Budapest.

"I remember taking a camera on my first tour to document the work and the exploits of my fellow musicians - but I won't be publishing those photographs," joked Adams. "I really love working as a photographer and I love working as a musician. If you can find a job you love, you never work a day in your life."