Miner's early painting may unlock clues to artist

A new study of a rare painting could unlock clues about a celebrated miner artist, according to researchers.

Colliery Row by North East painter Norman Cornish has been donated to Northumbria University, which already owns the world's largest collection of Cornish's paintings.

The artwork is considered rare as it was painted in 1947, when Cornish was still working as a miner at Dean and Chapter Colliery Ferryhill, making it the earliest work in the university's possession.

PhD student Jennifer Myers, who will be carrying out scientific analysis of the paining, said her research aimed to look at Cornish's materials and development as an artist.

"This painting gives us a rare chance to study an artwork which may provide more clues about the detail of Cornish's working practice during that transition [from miner to artist]," she said.

"What excites me most about this painting is that it comes from such an early point in Cornish's career, before he left mining to focus on art full time."

Northumbria University said Colliery Row had been part of the National Coal Board's own art collection and displayed at the organisation's headquarters in London.

It became part of the Art by the Miner exhibition held at the Academy Cinema on London's Oxford Street in 1947, a moment considered pivotal in Cornish's career as an emerging artist.

Bryn Morris, a former employee of the British Coal Corporation, bought it in 1997 and has now donated it to the Newcastle university.

He said: "I decided that Northumbria University would be a fitting home and reliable custodian of this important work of art and piece of North East social history."

Academics and students at the institution are due to carry out a full technical study of the painting.

Dr Richard Mulholland, who teaches on the conservation of fine Art MA programme, said the painting from Cornish's early career was "remarkable".

Cornish, who died in 2014 aged 94, was a celebrated artist from Spennymoor who was best known for his works depicting life in the County Durham coalfields.

Among his many works was a mural he created for the County Hall in Durham showing the city's annual miners' gala.

The mural can now be found in Bishop Auckland Town Hall, with County Hall set for demolition.

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