MUSEUM visitors are being given the chance to create pieces of work directly onto the walls of a new Norman Cornish-inspired exhibit.

The exciting Make Your Mark activity will see two people selected to creatively contribute to the walls in No. 2 Front Street on Beamish’s 1950s terrace.

The exhibit is part of the museum’s Remaking Beamish project and will tell the story of the Spennymoor Settlement of artists, writers and poets, and will be based on the former home of celebrated artist Norman Cornish.

The Make Your Mark activity is inspired by Norman, who used the freshly-stripped walls of his family home as a giant canvas before they were covered in wallpaper.

No. 2 Front Street is a recreation of 33 Bishop’s Close Street in Spennymoor, where Norman lived for most of the 1950s with his wife Sarah and two children Ann and John.

The exhibit, due to open in 2022 and will share the story of the Cornish family.

John was born in 33 Bishop’s Close Street and lived there until he was 11.

He said: “My father clearly couldn’t resist the temptation of painting on his living room wall before it was redecorated.

“Now we are about to recreate that moment in the house at Beamish. Family members are really looking forward to leaving a lasting footprint on the house before it is wallpapered – a unique opportunity for us.

“We’re delighted to see that the Beamish team will be inviting others to come along and join us in leaving their mark for posterity.

“Certainly the ‘Make Your Mark’ activity will be really enjoyable and will add character to the home.”

John is delighted to see the house based on his family’s former home developing in our 1950s Town.

He added: “Seeing our former home at Bishop’s Close Street beginning to take shape was an emotional moment for me.

“The whole 1950s terrace is really beginning to take shape now and as a family we are delighted that the recreation of our old ‘two up–two down’ colliery house will be part of this new development.

“Not only will the house give visitors an insight into the living conditions experienced by thousands of miners’ families in the 1950s, it will also highlight how my father managed to find a way to develop as an artist in a house that afforded such little space.”

For the Make Your Mark activity, two names will be drawn from a Beamish costume hat.

Lisa Kaimenas, a project officer at Remaking Beamish, said: “Sarah, Norman’s wife, told us that Norman could not resist the opportunity to paint the walls of their house before being wallpapered over, we want to do the same in our exhibit. As well as work created by the Cornish family and members of the community, two visitors will personalise the walls with their own creations.

“You can paint, draw, write or colour something that captures your imagination and inspires you. As Norman was told, ‘paint the world you know’!

To enter, send a name, address and age to makeyourmark@beamish.org.uk by 11am on Saturday, July 3.