Mining history brought vividly to life 
in paintings by nonagenarian artist

Eric Hill’s work is being shown at the Coterie Gallery in High Green, Sheffield, throughout May.

Anthony Carroll, artist and curator at the Coterie, said yesterday: “Eric spent all his life locally working around the Barnsley area in the mines, from when he was 14 years old up until he was 65.

“The only time he broke his service was during World War Two, when he was called up to fight for King and country for six years.

“He did about 50 years working in the mining industry and has spent all his life also doing these paintings and watercolours in his leisure time.

“These images are all on a mining theme. There’s no photography; the paintings are from sights he saw himself and invoke the grime and the working conditions of the mines.

“He’s included the work, the leisure and the mining conditions, often all juxtaposed in just one painting.”

All of the paintings by Mr Hill, from Ryhill near Wakefield, are for sale. They include a limited number of original A5-sized paintings, with prices starting at £20.

Despite working as an industrial painter for the National Coal Board, Mr Hill has been exhibiting around Yorkshire for the last five decades.

Even before his retirement, his skills were recognised with a £300 first prize in a nationwide NCB art contest.

Mr Carroll added: “It’s all real life that he’s seen and has put down in these paintings.

“A lot of these pits are no longer in existence, so this is history, but history as seen in reality through his eyes.

“This year Eric will be 92 so he’s got a lot of experience, but still active, still painting, still exhibiting.”

The exhibition will run from tomorrow until Friday, May 31.

Opening times at the Coterie Gallery are from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.