Unseen works by coal miner artist unveiled

Unseen paintings, sketchbooks and rare prints by miner-turned-artist Tom McGuinness have been put on display in an exhibition dedicated to his life's work.

The collection will be on view to the public at the Gallerina art space in Darlington until the new year.

The Bishop Auckland-born artist was one of the Bevin Boys conscripted to work in coal mines during World War Two and went on to have a 60-year career as a painter.

His daughter, Corinne Aspel, said the range of work on display at the new exhibition was "very special".

"Dad was always learning and was keen to try different techniques," she said.

"It will be lovely to see a really good range of his work at the exhibition from different stages of his life and for there to be pieces people won’t have seen before."

The exhibition will include images of McGuinness's life as well as his sketchbooks, etchings, lithographs and paintings.

McGuinness was a member of the Spennymoor Settlement, a mid-century arts centre which encouraged a better understanding of the arts within the County Durham mining community.

Another notable member was former miner Norman Cornish.

The show coincides with the opening of a new space at Gallerina, The McGuinness Gallery, which will also display work from new talent.

"He was also very encouraging of other people and would have been very happy to know the new gallery space in his name will be dedicated to showing the work of emerging artists," said Ms Aspel.

"He was always keen to help the next generation."

Gallerina's owner Richard Hindle said for many people McGuinness' working life was "unimaginable".

"But Tom would visit darkness and return with light; his work filled with colour, camaraderie and happy memories."

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