A TRIO of pictures by artist Norman Cornish bought by a North-East woman when he was first making his name in the region are to go under the hammer.

The paintings by the celebrated artist, from Spennymoor, County Durham, are expected to fetch several thousand pounds when they are sold in Newcastle tomorrow.

Bought at the Stone Gallery, Newcastle in the early 1970s, they include a backyard scene with washing, a bar scene, and a study of four heads - one with an intriguing inscription.

John Anderson, picture specialist at city auctioneers Anderson Garland, who will be selling the paintings, said: "The Stone Gallery in Newcastle, run by Mick and Tillie Marshall, was probably the first gallery to recognise his importance as an artist and not only regularly sold his work but organised a number of one-man shows.

'It gives some idea of how forward-looking they were if one recalls that they also did the same with the now even more famous LS Lowry. Our client was a frequent visitor to the gallery and her three pictures reflect a wide breadth of Norman's interest in his local environment.

"The backyard with its washing must have been a regular sight, as were the men propping up a bar.

"But the four heads belong to a vast series of lightning sketches Norman has for many years done in his local club. One of the four stands out because of it actually bearing a caption.

"It's the first we recall that identifies the man or woman captured by pen and says 'Herbert, Well away on a Saturday Night'.

"Also, it's dated, May, 1960. A lot of beer has disappeared down a lot of Spennymoor throats since then."