Turner Prize winning ceramacist Grayson Perry spent the weekend with a collective of Bishop Auckland artist.

Grayson Perry won the Turner Prize in 2003 with his collection of pots.

In Durham to launch the opening of his curated collection 'Unpopular Culture', he led a discussion about his career and the pieces he has included in the touring collection.

Mr Perry has selected a variety of pieces from the Arts Council collections and features seventy works from fifty artisits.

Following the session he took tea and drinks with a group of Bishop Auckland contemporary artists. Painter Julie Scorer, costume designer Carol Wright, photographer and painter Michael Hope, painter Daniel Walls and performance artist and folk singer Lady Kitt spent several hours in an informal discussion about the state of art in the north east. Mr Perry said 'it was fun to meet the Durham art crowd.'

Mr Hope, Mrs Wright and Mrs Scorer all lecturer at Bishop Auckland College. They are looking forward to the latest phase of the college to be completed which will house the art and design courses. Carol Wright said, 'there is real creativity and talent in Bishop. Grayson was really interested in the work we are doing and the way art is developing here in the north. He seemed surprised that a group of artists are thriving in the town.'

Unpopular Culture is on show at the Durham Art Gallery until 4th January.