Intimate exhibition of Norman Cornish’s drawings, paintings and sketchbooks of Durham coalfield life.
Step inside the working imagination of Norman Cornish in this intimate exhibition at The Bowes Museum. Bringing together finished drawings, paintings and watercolours alongside preparatory sketches, it reveals the creative process behind one of the North East’s most celebrated twentieth-century artists. Across his lifetime, Cornish filled 269 sketchbooks, capturing the streets, people and communities of the Durham coalfield with warmth, insight and extraordinary observation.
The exhibition explores themes of working life, community and everyday experience, while also highlighting a recent acquisition that strengthens the Museum’s collection. Ideal for audiences interested in British art, social history and the North East, this display offers a rare opportunity to encounter Cornish’s work up close and discover the sketchbooks he believed should “have a life of their own”.
Get a National Art Pass and explore The Bowes Museum
You'll see more art and your membership will help museums across the UK
National Art Pass offers available at The Bowes Museum
Visitor information
Address
Newgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8NP
01833 690606
Opening times
Mon – Sun, 10am – 5pm Closed 25, 26 Dec and 1 Jan
