NATURE'S natural treasures are inspiring a new partnership at an award-winning North-East museum.

Fifty examples of the reviving art of spar box making are on show at Killhope Lead Mining Museum, in Upper Weardale, County Durham, until the end of this month.

Now, Newcastle artist Kathryn Hodgkinson is spending August interpreting the collection in her unusual specialist medium of cast glass.

Kathryn, 27, graduated from Sunderland University in 1998 with a First-Class Honours degree in glass and ceramics, and has established her own studio.

She said: "The way that spar boxes create a magical world which reflects the personality of the maker has a strong link to cast glass.

"Working in cast glass is similar to bronze casting and involves the casting of glass in a kiln for anything up to four weeks.

"Following the casting process, I polish off many of the glass surfaces to reveal the magical interior detail."

Visitors can watch Kathryn at work during the residency, which is supported by Northern Arts' Regional Arts Lottery Programme.

She will be at Killhope today, tomorrow and Wednesday, and August 23, 24, 28 and 29. There will be a children's workshop on Saturday, September 8.

Killhope manager Ian Forbes said: "Kathryn will be asking visitors for their impressions of the spar boxes and looking at the environment to generate ideas for a significant piece of new work for permanent display."

The museum is open daily from 10.30am to 6pm. It is on the A689 between Wearhead and Alston.