ARTIST Alan Matthews will not miss his favourite home-made Yorkshire puddings when he takes his watercolour talents to the US next month.

For with him will be his 17-year-old daughter, catering student Anna, who aims to make sure that the Americans - and her father - never run out of Yorkshire puddings.

The pair start their travels across the Atlantic at Warrenton, Virginia, where Mr Matthews is taking over a property in five acres of grounds to host a five-day course in watercolours. They will then move to Ripon's twin town, of Ripon in Wisconsin.

Anna, who studies at Harrogate College, will become chef-in-chief, taking charge of the kitchen to feed the course members and host family.

"She thinks nothing of rustling up a full roast with all the trimmings for 12. The people where we are staying are not too keen on cooking themselves, so they are looking forward to her arrival," said Mr Matthews, whose studio is in Westgate, Ripon, where he is chairman of the street traders' association.

Later, Mr Matthews moves on to Ripon's twin town of Ripon, Wisconsin, where he will stage an exhibition of his works, many of them reflecting scenes from the North Yorkshire city and county beauty spots.

This is Mr Matthews' third visit to the other Ripon and his display will be set up in a coffee shop of the US town, which has a population of 7,000 and is half the size of Yorkshire's Ripon