A SERIES of creative activities inspired by one of the pitman painters are being held over the half-term holidays.

Beamish Museum, near Chester-le-Street, is inviting people to take part in the Norman Cornish Creative Arts event, where they can follow his approach of “painting the world you know”.

It coincides with the centenary year of Cornish’s birth and Beamish will soon be starting work on a house that is based on his former home, from Bishop’s Close Street, Spennymoor.

Sketches by Cornish, from Beamish’s collection, will be displayed at the museum alongside images of some of his work, on loan from the Cornish family.

People will be able to add their own face to a mural in The Pit Village chapel, inspired by the work he created at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Spennymoor.

Younger visitors can pick up their own Beamish sketchbook to create artwork as they explore the open air museum.

John Cornish, Norman’s son, said: “As a family, we are delighted that my father’s legacy is being recognised with such an exciting week at Beamish.

“We are very proud of the esteem in which my father’s work and we hope the half term event will encourage a new generation of artists and show them how to seek inspiration from their local surroundings.”