ART

Series

Series Name: Mining Review 8th Year

Issue

Issue No.

Date Released

Feb 1955

Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 3

Summary

BFI synopsis: ex-miner Arthur Newton paints pictures in colliery canteens
NCB Summary - Brightening canteens in Yorkshire with pictures by Arthur Newton, himself once a miner but now on N.C.B. training staff, who spends his spare-time painting.
NCB Commentary - A stones-throw from Barnsley Main Colliery stands one of Yorkshire’s new Area Training Centres. Here works Arthure Newton on the training staff and in charge of projection.
Once a miner himself, Newton is playing his part in bringing up the miners of tomorrow. But motion pictures aren’t his only interest.
Area General Manager Longden believes that colliery canteens in his area could do with a bit of brightening up. His opinion is shared by the men. Knowing Arthur Newton’s varied talents, Longden decided to commission him to produce 50 paintings for colliery canteens.
Art Newton works from photographs and his work reflects his fondness for the English countryside. A man of many parts, Newton was once a theatrical scene painter, and he uses a scene-painter’s technique to bring his subjects to life. He paints on hardboard which has been prepared with a white ground. After sketching in the outlines he uses plastic distemper into which he works powdered colours. His two-handed technique allows him to produce his paintings with astonishing speed.
Working in the stables of the Area Headquarters, mostly by night when his other jobs are finished, makes Arthur shiver, but at least he doesn’t starve. In the canteen at Rockingham Colliery the Area Catering Supervisor is just one of the people who comliment him on what he’s done to brighten up the surroundings. Other areas, please copy.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 16 January 1955.

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