‘Spirit of the North East’ is a very excellent retrospective currently showing at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery that showcases the paintings of Richard Hobson.

Richard Hobson (1945-2004) was a painter who managed to capture the changing landscapes, the industry, and the communities that go together to make up our region. From bustling shipyards to rugged moorlands and beyond, this show explores how Hobson managed to depict a way of life that was on the cusp of change. He was a man possessed with a curious eye, a passion for nature and the great outdoors. In short: he lived for his art. His paintings feature looming power station cooling towers, and the dilapidated remnants of past industrial might. He also recorded the spectacular natural world of the North Country on his frequent rambles in the countryside.

Spirit of the North East: The Art of Richard Hobson, until 2 November, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, southshieldsmuseum.org.uk