The Northern Echo:

THERE are some people – a select few – who deserve a special send-off because of their outstanding contribution to society. Norman Cornish falls into that category.
Art has the power to capture the spirit of a region and its people, and – as much as anyone in recent times – Norman had that gift in respect of the North-East of England.
The dark, harsh world he encountered during the 33 years he spent down the pit was transported into his paintings and drawings. 
And, as that world slowly ebbed away, those masterpieces formed a legacy that will grow in historical and cultural importance long after his death at 94.
“I paint human beings," he said. "I paint their hopes and their shapes and their attitudes and the feelings I have when I look at them. The images come from the people. They create them. I am just the medium.''
There will be no flamboyance about his funeral tomorrow – no public celebration of a genius who left an indelible mark on this region. No doubt, the mourners would have flocked to pay tribute to the great man, but a private, family service is all that Norman wanted.
But it is right that the North-East recognises the importance of an exceptional artist. The North-East, and County Durham in particular, must think carefully about how best to remember Norman Cornish, pitman painter, and the lost way of life he so beautifully recorded.
For now, tomorrow's edition of The Northern Echo will be respectfully wrapped in a painting of his family's choice: Spennymoor Snow, Mount Pleasant.
So full of life, it is a perfect choice to mark his death.