David Hockney’s, The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire, 30th May 2011, is an iPad drawing printed on paper that forms part of the artist’s celebrated Arrival of Spring series.

Created in 2011, the work depicts a tree-lined path in East Yorkshire, capturing the landscape as it transitions into late spring. Through this series, Hockney documents the gradual transformation of the countryside near his childhood home, turning close observation into a meditation on time and seasonal change.

The composition centres on a winding dirt path framed by arching branches that stretch across the picture plane, drawing the viewer into the depth of the scene. A small horse-riding sign punctuates the landscape, grounding the image in a specific, lived environment. Layers of vibrant greens and earthy tones, combined with Hockney’s fluid, gestural lines, convey the density and vitality of foliage in full bloom, while the interlacing branches create a rhythmic, immersive structure.

Executed on an iPad, the work marks a significant shift in Hockney’s practice, allowing for immediacy and spontaneity akin to plein air painting. Through this digital medium, he captures fleeting changes in light and atmosphere with remarkable directness. In The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, Hockney transforms a familiar rural scene into a dynamic visual experience, reflecting his enduring fascination with perception and the ever-changing rhythms of the natural world.