Pennine painter’s work on rotating display in new gallery

The omens were good. With February 19 set as the date for the official opening of the new Huddersfield gallery, the last of the snow storms seemed to be a couple of weeks behind us and Baggs was planning to unveil the new space. Then a snowstorm, if not unseasonal, was certainly surprising, and almost put paid to the plans to open the gallery and meant a much smaller crowd than might have been expected.

“It was Peter up there, playing his little joke on us,” says Baggs.

If the weather was unhelpful in attracting people to the opening of the gallery, it was appropriate given that Brook’s favourite scenes to paint were snowy Pennine landscapes.

The artist died in November 2009, leaving behind a wealth of paintings and collectors including Tom Courtenay and Tommy Steele.

Baggs’s AC Gallery had represented Brook for a number of years and is now the main dealer for the painter’s work.

“We thought it was appropriate, given how well-loved Peter was in this area, that we should have a permanent gallery on site dedicated to his work,” says Baggs. The upstairs of the Huddersfield town centre gallery on Byram Street, underwent a refurbishment and now features a rotating collection of the work of the painter and, even though the crowd was small on the day the gallery was officially opened – thanks to the “Brook-ian” weather outside – Baggs hopes the work of the Pennine Painter will continue to reach fans thanks to the new gallery.