Artist tried to capture pits before they closed (From The Northern Echo)

Artist tried to capture pits before they closed

8:50am Thursday 12th March 2009 in

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AN artist has recalled his experiences attempting to capture the disappearing North-East colliery skyline on canvas.

The 25th anniversary of the year-long miners’ strike encouraged Fred Atkinson to dig out some of the pit scenes he sketched and painted in that era.

Having given up his job in the drawing office of Darlington engineering company Whessoe, the former Merchant seaman and Wearside shipyard draughtsman turned to his lifelong love of art to earn a living.

He attended art college in Hartlepool and went on to become a freelance artist, under the name Fred M Atkinson.

As the North-East coalfield receded, he decided to try to record the landscape of the dwindling colliery communities.

He said: “I had lived in mining villages for much of my life, but never went down a mine.

“The pit heads were part of the scenery, but by 1980 they were fast disappearing and I thought I would get round to draw as many as I could.

“I remember being told Sacriston Colliery was closing, but, by the time I got there, it was a hole in the ground.”

On another occasion, Mr Atkinson recalls being viewed with suspicion by striking miners as he nervously sketched and photographed Eppleton Colliery, at Hetton-le-Hole.

“I’m sure it crossed their minds that I was observing their activities, so I just got on with my sketch and left,”

he said: “It was an odd time.”

Mr Atkinson, who previously had a studio in Durham City, but now works from home in nearby High Shincliffe, said he is happy to show his old colliery scene archive to any interested groups or clubs.

He can be contacted on 0191-386-1392, after 2pm.