Norman Cornish: A Life in Sketchbooks

Discover the creative world of Norman Cornish, one of the North East’s most celebrated artists, in this exhibition exploring the sketchbooks that shaped his work.

Bringing together drawings, paintings, watercolours and original sketchbooks, it reveals how his observations of everyday life in the Durham coalfield developed into finished works of art. Over his lifetime, Cornish filled 269 sketchbooks with scenes of the people, streets and communities around him. These pages offer a glimpse into the ideas behind his paintings and the world that inspired him. In his own words, Cornish wished for these sketchbooks to “have a life of their own… and to teach people to look at things.”

Following our previous exhibition, Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry, this exhibition explores a more personal side of the artist, revealing the inspirations behind his work.

A New Acquisition

Also on display is Sarah Peeling Potatoes, a recently acquired portrait of Cornish’s wife, which shows the care he felt towards her and celebrates the role of women in Durham mining communities. Cornish described these images as representing “thousands of women who were heroines of the coalfield”.

Thanks to legacy funds from The Friends of The Bowes Museum, this artwork is now a permanent piece of the collection.

About Norman Cornish

Born in Spennymoor in 1919, Cornish worked as a miner from the age of 14 while building a career as an artist. He is recognised as one of the region’s most important painters, known for his powerful depictions of community, work and everyday life. This exhibition offers a fresh perspective on Cornish’s work and the sketches, ideas and observations behind some of his most beloved paintings.

We also have an exciting collection of Norman Cornish inspired items for sale in our shop.