Bishop Auckland art exhibition honours Tom McGuinness

Tom McGuinness: Out of the Darkness opens at the Mining Art Gallery in the town tomorrow (Wednesday, February 18). 

It marks the centenary of renowned County Durham artist Tom McGuinness, who was born in 1926 and worked as a miner for nearly 40 years, using painting as his voice to portray the emotional and physical reality of life underground.

Tom McGuinness, The Hewer, 1980s, oil on board. Gemini Collection, Zurbarán Trust. © Estate of Tom McGuinness. All rights reserved. DACS 2026_ (Image: Estate of Tom McGuinness. All rights reserved, DACS)

Mr McGuinness once said: “I find it difficult to express any feelings in words; that is why I paint… my art mirrors my life in the mining community.”

Born in Witton Park, he began mining in 1944 as a Bevin Boy and developed his artistic style through the guidance of mentors at the Darlington School of Art and the Spennymoor Settlement.

Tom McGuinness at the pithead of his colliery near Bishop Auckland in 1977 (Image: Alamy Stock Photo)

His signature use of bold, distorted figures and atmospheric glazes offers a unique window into the world beneath the earth.

Corinne Aspel, the artist’s daughter, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to see a broad range of dad’s work, including personal family pieces and a true celebration of his life and incredible talent.”

The exhibition spans the entire first floor of the gallery and includes paintings in each of the downstairs rooms, offering a rotating selection of themed displays throughout the year.

Tom McGuinness, Cool Blues, 1988, etching and aquatint. Gemini Collection, Zurbarán Trust. (Image: Estate of Tom McGuinness. All rights reserved, DACS)

From February to June, the focus will be on portraits, with scenes from the Durham Miners’ Gala taking centre stage in July.

The retrospective features oil paintings, sketches, etchings, lithographs, and rarely seen loans from various collections.

Bob McManners, co-founder of the Gemini Collection of Mining Art, said: “Tom’s pictorial record of the coal mining industry is unrivalled.

“He worked for 39 years in the mines, painting daily what then seemed an indestructible industry.

“In his latter years, he went on to graphically illustrate the social consequences of the aftermath of the demise of the coal industry.

“Tom was a quiet man who spoke fluently and powerfully to us through the medium of his art, which represents the personal diary of an underground miner.

“His work is his autobiography.”

Among the works on display are intimate drawings of family members and colleagues, as well as one of the rare self-portraits created by Mr McGuinness.

The Mining Art Gallery, part of The Auckland Project, was recently awarded Accredited Museum status by Arts Council England.

It forms part of the charity’s wider mission to regenerate Bishop Auckland by developing heritage attractions, galleries, and gardens that celebrate the region’s industrial and social history.

Anne Sutherland, Mining Art & Industrial Heritage Curator at The Auckland Project, said: “This exhibition celebrates a man whose work captures the emotional truth of mining life.

“McGuinness didn’t simply record what he saw, he interpreted what it felt like to be a miner.

“His art remains a powerful reminder of the resilience and identity of mining communities across the North East.”

Tom McGuinness: Out of the Darkness will run until December 2026.

Tickets and more information are available at the Auckland Project website.