Young assistant to David Hockney dies

British artist David Hockney poses as he unveils his painting "Bigger Trees Near Water," the largest painting ever shown at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, on May 25, 2007, in London. / AP Photo/Sang Tan

London A young assistant to David Hockney has died after being taken to a hospital from the artist's house.

Dominic Elliott, 23, was taken to Scarborough General Hospital, near Hockney's home in northeastern England, Sunday morning.

Humberside police said Monday they could not confirm Elliott's name but released a statement indicating that a 23-year-old man had died. The statement says there are no signs of violence and that a post-mortem examination will be conducted Tuesday.

It said the circumstances of the man's death are not clear and that officers are investigating.

The 75-year-old Hockney is one of Britain's most famous artists. He had a major exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts last year that included many paintings of the Yorkshire countryside.