WORK by coal mining artist Derek Slater is on show at Crook Hall and Gardens until the end of March.
Born in Chilton, he began work at Mainsforth Colliery after leaving school at 15. He was employed in the mining industry for more than 25 years and draws on his experiences for his pictures, using the cramped and hazardous setting as a backdrop to his paintings.
Slater was awarded the Sir Derek Ezra Art Trophy in 1982 and had a design accepted for the North-East area NUM banner.
After being made redundant from British Coal in 1994, he was accepted on to a BA(Hons) course in fine art at Sunderland University and continues to paint in oils and ink.
The exhibition includes original paintings for sale. Crook Hall and Gardens are open to visitors from Sunday to Wednesday, 11am-3pm.
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