Hannah Grahamslaw, a 25-year-old illustrator who produces Scarborough-themed artwork, has spent the last few years working on commissioned projects that promote the area.
“This deckchair project is exactly the sort of thing that six months ago I would have been paid to do,” she said.
“But it’s not just the impact on my own employment that offends me, my concerns are mainly that all AI “art” is stolen from artwork created by real artists.
“It is is damaging to the environment, it takes jobs from artists, without whom North Yorkshire would be an extremely dull and grey place.”
The council’s corporate director for community development, Nic Harne, defended the temporary installation and said the authority would welcome input from local creatives on developing a more permanent trail.
He added: “We continue to support local artists through a wide range of cultural programmes, events and initiatives across North Yorkshire.
“The deckchair trail is a temporary installation as part of the Scarborough 400 celebrations, and we will review its success once the programme has come to an end. However, the reaction so far suggests there may be an opportunity to develop a similar project in the future.
“If we do, we would welcome input from Scarborough’s artists and creative sector on how a more permanent trail could be developed.”