The town features in A Coastal Voyage in Watercolour, by artist Ron Thornton, and includes information on the founder of New Filey, John Wilkes Unett, and the many famous holidaymakers it attracted, such as the composer Frederic Delius and novelist Charlotte Bronte.

Filey sits alongside 51 other coastal towns in the book, which looks at resorts stretching down the east coast from The Borders down to the River Humber, and Mr Thornton, 73, said he had he found the town to be an inspiring place.

He said: "I was pleasantly surprised by Filey, because for years it had been synonymous with Butlin's for me.

"However, I really enjoyed the resort, especially when looking over the harbour and seeing the trees and the houses in the background.

"My favourite place is the Coble Landing and I really like its interesting mixture of cobles, passenger vessels, pleasure craft, arcades and cafes because the place just bustles with activity.

"If I can paint the boats on the water then I'm happy, so it was quite a sight to see the cobles pulled from the sea by tractor and then parked on the promenade."

Mr Thornton, of Hexham, in Northumberland, is a self-taught watercolourist and the former teacher said he was pleased his method and persistence had paid off during the three-year project.

He said: "I use the technique of practice, perseverance and patience and use templates so as not to minimise the need for drawing and I am always thinking ahead because watercolour does not wait and unlike using oil or pastels, it cannot be re-worked."