A FREELANCE artist from Thornton Watlass has paintings and drawings hanging in homes in such far-flung places as America, New Zealand and the rest of Europe.

The Rev Andrew Woodhouse has made such a mark over the past decade, however, that one of the latest examples of his work is destined for the royal surroundings of Windsor Castle.

On Monday, a watercolour of Thorp Perrow Arboretum, between Bedale and Snape, was sent to be framed and hung in St George's House, a centre for consultations and clergy courses established 35 years ago by the deans and canons, supported by the Duke of Edinburgh.

St George's House has been refurbished by the Queen's chaplain, Canon John White, who was chaplain of the northern ordination course when Mr Woodhouse was training for the priesthood in the late Seventies.

Mr Woodhouse, now priest in charge of Thornton Watlass, was invited to consider contributing an example of his work to the refurbishment by Canon White.

Mr Woodhouse said: "The canon already has two of my paintings in a personal capacity and has said they have been admired by residents of the castle. I am thrilled that one is now going to hang in St George's House."

The chosen view shows a bed of bluebells surrounded by some of the trees in the arboretum collection. Mr Woodhouse said: "I chose it because the arboretum is one of my favourite places."

He was a part-time unpaid curate at Bedale while working as head of Bedale CE Primary School, so was able to devote more time to his artistic interests until he retired from education in 1990.

Mr Woodhouse trained at Leeds College of Art and Goldsmiths College in London.

Working with oils, watercolours and pencil, Mr Woodhouse does landscapes, portraits and studies of pets, houses and churches.