Paintings by Hartlepool artist capture North East life in new exhibit

Stanley Davison: A Decade in Paint at Hartlepool Art Gallery will run until Saturday, October 10, bringing together paintings produced by the self-taught Hartlepool artist over the past ten years.

The exhibition features a wide range of works inspired by the town and its history, with recognisable locations including Fish Sands, the old cemetery on the Headland, the derelict Steetley Pier and Hartlepool harbour all appearing in the collection.

An example of the work by Davison that will be on show in Hartlepool Art Exhibition. (Image: Stanley Davison, Hartlepool Art Gallery)

Many of the paintings on display are rooted in local life, drawing inspiration from family, friends and familiar faces from across Hartlepool.

A distinctive feature of Stanley’s work is his use of artists’ mannequins and shop-window figures instead of human subjects.

The recurring characters give the paintings a unique quality, creating scenes that range from playful and imaginative to reflective and thought-provoking.

The exhibition also includes inventive reworkings of famous paintings by artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez and Cézanne, reimagined in contemporary Hartlepool settings and featuring local people.

An example of the work by Davison that will be on show in Hartlepool Art Exhibition. (Image: Stanley Davison, Hartlepool Art Gallery)

Stanley said: “I’ve been painting since I was ten years old and I’ve never really stopped, in digs, in the sitting room and in a box bedroom with the easel fixed to the wall.

“Everything I paint comes from this place and the people in it, family, friends, people I’ve worked with and drunk with over the years.

“I had my first exhibition here in Hartlepool in 1981 and it’s good to be sharing my work here again.”

Visitors to the gallery will also have the chance to buy any of the paintings on display.

Councillor Rob Darby, chairman of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Housing, Growth and Communities Committee, said the exhibition highlights both the town’s heritage and the talent of one of its artists.

“Stanley’s work captures the spirit, character and history of Hartlepool in a truly distinctive way,” he said.

“This exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for residents and visitors alike to enjoy, and even buy, the work of a very talented local artist whose paintings celebrate the town, its heritage and its people.

“We are delighted to welcome this major exhibition to Hartlepool Art Gallery, and I would encourage everyone to come along and see it.”

Entry to the exhibition is free.

Hartlepool Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.