TWO Holme Valley artists, an Almondbury author and a Mirfield-born actor are among the most influential living Tykes.

That’s according to the glossy Yorkshire publication Beyond Magazine whose latest issue ranked artists Darren Baker and Ashley Jackson, writer Joanne Harris and Hollywood veteran Patrick Stewart in its top 100 most influential people in the county.

Holmfirth painter Jackson was ranked 58th ahead of former Meltham artist Darren Baker who pulled 75th position, one place behind controversial artist Damien Hirst.

Baker, who still has a Meltham studio despite moving to the Cotswolds, is set to paint HRH Elizabeth II for her 85th birthday.

Author of bestseller Chocolat and recipe books Joanne Harris was ranked 88th.

Mirfield-born Hollywood star and Huddersfield University chancellor Patrick Stewart fared best achieving 13th.

Sheffield MP and deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg topped the list followed by Sheffield athlete Jessica Ennis in second and foreign minister and Richmond MP William Hague in third.