A mystery at the Mining Art Gallery has sparked a public appeal, as visitors are asked to help identify an unknown man captured in a 1963 portrait by celebrated miner-artist Tom McGuinness.
The charcoal drawing, Portrait of an Unknown Man, is currently on display in Bishop Auckland as part of Tom McGuinness: Out of the Darkness – a major retrospective marking the centenary of the artist’s birth.
Running throughout 2026, the exhibition celebrates the life and work of one of County Durham’s most compelling artistic voices. Drawing on nearly four decades spent underground, McGuinness transformed the realities of mining into powerful, expressive works that capture the emotion, pressure and humanity of life below ground.
Born in nearby Witton Park, McGuinness entered the mines in 1944 as a Bevin Boy. Encouraged by mentors at Darlington School of Art and the Spennymoor Settlement, he developed a distinctive style featuring bowed, distorted figures shaped by tunnels and illuminated with eerie green and blue glazes. As he once said: “I find it difficult to express any feelings in words; that is why I paint… my art mirrors my life in the mining community.”
Spanning more than 50 years, Out of the Darkness fills the gallery with oil paintings, sketches, etchings and lithographs, alongside rarely seen loans. From February to June, the exhibition focuses on portraiture – making the mystery sitter all the more compelling.
The portrait dates from the early period of McGuinness’ artistic career, when he honed his skills through life drawing. In the 1940s and 1950s, he sketched family members, neighbours and colleagues, often working in pencil or charcoal. By the 1960s, as his reputation grew, he began taking on portrait commissions more widely meaning the sitter could have been either someone he knew or a local resident who commissioned the work.
The artwork was originally labelled Cathy’s Dad, thought to depict McGuinness’ father-in-law. However, this was later disproven when the artist’s daughter – Corinne Aspel – reviewed the piece while working with the gallery.
Corinne said: “When I saw the drawing, I knew straight away it wasn’t my grandad. There are clear differences—particularly in the shape of his nose. It just didn’t match. It makes you wonder who he really was, and whether someone out there might recognise him.”
Now, the gallery – part of The Auckland Project – is appealing to communities across County Durham to come forward with any information.
Anne Sutherland, Mining Art & Industrial Heritage Curator at The Auckland Project, said: “Tom McGuinness had a remarkable ability to capture character and personality in his portraits. This drawing is no exception, but we don’t yet know the story behind the man in the picture. Given Tom’s strong ties to this area, we believe there’s a good chance he was someone from the local community. We’d love to hear from anyone who thinks they might recognise him.”
She added: “This exhibition celebrates a man whose work captures the emotional truth of mining life as Tom interpreted what it felt like to be a miner. His art remains a powerful reminder of the resilience and identity of mining communities across the North East.”
The exhibition also includes tender drawings of family members and colleagues, a rare self-portrait, and rotating displays throughout the year. Following the current focus on portraits, scenes of the Durham Miners’ Gala will be showcased from July, as well as Tom’s skills as a printmaker by including etchings and lithographs of subterranean scenes.
Corinne added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to see a broad range of dad’s work, including personal family pieces and a true celebration of his life and incredible talent.”
The Mining Art Gallery, recently awarded Accredited Museum status by Arts Council England, is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the art and heritage of mining communities.
Anyone who may recognise the man in the portrait is encouraged to contact The Auckland Project at
Tickets for Tom McGuinness: Out of the Darkness, running until December 2026, are available at: https://aucklandproject.org/event/tom-mcguinness-out-of-the-darkness/
