ART by the late Norman Cornish is expected to attract strong interest from collectors when it goes under the hammer next week.

Three pieces from the pitman painter’s later career are among the highlights of a fine arts sale at Newcastle auctioneers Anderson & Garland.

A pastel entitled Spennymoor Street Scene with Lamppost, Lady and Pram, an oil painting called Miner at Bar, and a pencil drawing of Old Ryton Village Green will be for sale in the three-day auction on Tuesday December 1, Wednesday December 2 and Thursday December 3.

The pastel street scene and the oil of the miner, which were both exhibited at the Northumbria University Gallery, have estimated prices starting at £7,000 and £6,000 respectively.

The pencil drawing was gifted to the vendor by the artist and has an estimated value starting at £200.

Mr Cornish, from Spennymoor, County Durham, continued painting and exhibiting almost up until his death last August, at the age of 94.

A miner for 33 years, he developed his talent at the Pitman’s Academy, at the pioneering Spennymoor Settlement arts community, and won international acclaim for his paintings of everyday life in colliery communities.

Anderson & Garland art expert, John Anderson, said: “The pastel and the oil painting are both from the later part of his career and were both purchased in the last 20 years.

“They both represent very good examples of his best work, showing working class life in his native town, where he spent his entire life faithfully and affectionately documenting the scenery that was changing around him.”

he added: “Norman’s work seems to be so adaptable and so universally acceptable.

“He is kind of a classic modernist. What’s not to like about a Norman Cornish?”