THE “back street university”, where one of the region’s most famous artists learnt his trade, is hosting an exhibition of his work.

Paintings and sketches by Norman Cornish are being displayed at The Spennymoor Settlement, in County Durham, for two weeks.

The settlement was established in 1930 as a centre for social and education work, and gave mining families access to the arts. It became known as the Pitman’s Academy, because its clubs nurtured the talents of people such as writer Sid Chaplin and artists Tom McGuinness, Herbert Dees, Robert Heslop and Mr Cornish.

Mr Cornish, a miner for 33 years, joined its sketching club when he was 15, and was a member for 30 years.

He said: “It was like a back street university. It gave people an education and lifted us into a greater awareness of everything.”

Volunteers who run the building, which was given grade II-listed status in 2004 and was refurbished last year, are hosting the exhibition to coincide with Mr Cornish’s 90th birthday on November 18.

The exhibition will run until Saturday, November 21. It will be open from noon to 6pm on weekdays, 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and noon to 4pm on Sundays.