Hockney assistant's death probed

A studio assistant to the artist David Hockney has died in hospital after being taken from the painter's home in a serious condition, sources said.

Dominic Elliott, 23, had sat for the artist on more than one occasion at his studio in Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

He died at Scarborough General Hospital on Sunday morning, and police are now investigating the events surrounding his death.

Humberside Police said that they were contacted after the man had been taken to the hospital by a friend in a serious condition.

Police said: "The 23-year-old man was sadly pronounced dead at hospital and the police notified.

"The circumstances of the man's death are not clear and officers are currently undertaking inquiries to establish events leading to his death.

"There were no signs of violence and a post-mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow which is hoped may provide further information."

Hockney, 75, is one of the most famous British artists of his generation and was celebrated at the Royal Academy of Arts last year with an exhibition of his large scale landscapes, called A Bigger Picture.

The Bradford-born artist is famous for artworks such as A Bigger Splash, a vivid depiction of a Los Angeles swimming pool, and the portrait Mr And Mrs Clark And Percy.

In recent years he has been exploring the possibilities of using an iPad for his artworks.