Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon is delighted to be hosting an exhibition of coal mining paintings by Ferryhill Station artist, Derek Slater.
Derek was employed in the coal mining industry for over 25 years. He started work at Mainsforth Colliery and finished his employment for British Coal at Tursdale Workshops in 1994. He then studied at Sunderland University and gained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. He then started to teach art on a part-time basis and continued to paint.
Derek has a long standing relationship with the Locomotion site having previously boxed for Shildon ABC and trained in the old “Soho” shed, one of the oldest industrial buildings in Shildon, which was later put to many other uses including that of a gymnasium and is now part of the western end of the museum site.
His vibrant industrial-themed exhibition will explore mining and the experience of coal miners.
An exhibition of Derek’s work, titled ‘Coalmining: A Way of Life’ runs until 20th May and will be on display in the Collection Building at Locomotion
The museum is open between 10am and 4pm daily and entry is free.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
