WHEN it comes to depicting scenes from Durham Miners' Gala, artist George Robson knows what he is painting about.

For it is nearly 30 years since Mr Robson started organising the event, which he holds very dear to his heart.

So dear, that he decided to depict the great event on canvas in a series of works which have taken 18 months to complete.

A display of the unusual paintings are on exhibition in the small hall at Durham Town Hall until Monday.

His latest works sees Mr Robson moving away from his past highly colourful figurative style to a form he describes as "squint''.

Most of the images on display are monochrome and from a distance are self-explanatory.

From close up they are almost abstract, but at middle stance they require the viewer to squint with one eye to determine the subject.

In between manning his exhibition Mr Robson has been putting the final preparations in place for this year's Gala. Far from waning in popularity since the closure of the region's pits, the Big Meeting, is attracting more people each year, said Mr Robson.

And given the event an international flavour he revealed: "There will even be a banner from the mineworkers of Australia this year.''

The exhibition will open at Durham County Hall on August 3 for a week.