Photographers focus on region's artisans for new exhibition at The Witham

Teesdale blacksmith Brian Russell

THE new year starts with a new exhibition at The Witham, Barnard Castle.
Craftspeople of the North East is a celebration of regional talent.
Featuring contemporary portraits of eminent craftspeople from the region, the exhibition features the work of a group of photography enthusiasts from Durham who have made it their mission to photograph local people who have made an impact on life in the North East.
John Cogan, associate of the Royal Photographic Society (ARPS), who instigated the exhibition, said: “When you consider how mass produced most things are today, everything from shirts to soaps, cars to cakes, to hold an item that is unique and hand-made is both a joy and an affirmation of human creativity.
“To then meet and photograph the craftspeople who have made that item doubles the pleasure for they are as unique as their creations. 
“Viewed through the camera’s lens we can help perpetuate those skills and celebrate the great wealth of talent we have here, in the North East.”
The craftspeople featured in this exhibition include printmaker Anja Percival, glassblower Jane Charles, illustrator Juliet Percival, sculptor Simon Griffiths and blacksmith to the Duchess of Northumberland Stephen Lunn.
Teesdale talent is well represented by the bespoke blacksmith Brian Russell and the restorer of antique paintings and furniture, Luke Jordan. Accompanying the photographs will be selected works created by some of the craftspeople featured in the portraits.
These objects will range from sculptural and wall mounted works, to handling objects including high quality artist pastels made by Unison Colour in Northumberland.
The exhibition runs from Thursday, January 5, to Saturday, January 28.
It also marks the first in a series of community-focused exhibitions that will take place in the gallery at The Witham each January.