Special items feature in Woodhorn’s new Pitmen Painters exhibition

The Ashington Group circa 1941. Pictured in Ashington Group hut. © The Ashington Group

This year of marking the 90^th anniversary of the Pitmen Painters – otherwise knownas the Ashington Group – ends at the beginning with an exhibition at Woodhorn Museum reflecting on the very early years.

It brings together some of the items that assumed iconic status with Lee Hall’s play, The Pitmen Painters, including the projector which art lecturer Robert Lyon is seen setting up in one of the opening scenes.

Curator Dr Narbi Price says it has been with the Lyon family ever since and has been donated to the museum by his granddaughter who lives in Amsterdam.

Robert Lyon's projector

Also on display are early linocut prints, at least one of which will be familiar to those who have seen the play because they were projected onto a wall.

They were part of a gift made to Woodhorn by the family of founding Ashington Group member Harry Wilson in 1994 but this is the first time they have been on display.

But perhaps the most fascinating exhibit is for ears rather than eyes. It’s a BBC programme called Private Passions that was broadcast in 1939 and Dr Price believes it has never been repeated.

The Bedlington Terrier by William Scott (1936). Private collection

Now that it has been digitised, museum visitors can hear the pitmen painters in discussion with Robert Lyon. It’s heavily scripted and very old fashioned but fascinating, nonetheless.

Coalface Drawers: 90 Years of the Pitmen Painters opens on Saturday (October 5) and runs until January 5, 2025. For more information, including opening times and admission prices, go to the Woodhorn Museum website.

• Look out for David Whetstone’s upcoming interview with artist and curator of the exhibition, Dr Narbi Price.