A sculpture honouring a region’s mining heritage is to be unveiled to the public at an event which celebrates its history.
It features the figure of a miner symbolising those who worked in the industry across the north-east of England, surrounded by pit buildings and will be on display at the Northumberland Miner’s Picnic at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington on Saturday.
It has been created by artist John O’Rourke who has worked with students from Northumbria University on a “maquette” or model of the sculpture.
The proposed full version would be made from Corten steel, the same material as the Angel of the North, and would stand at 12.3 metres (40 ft) tall.
Student Ali Alamin translated O’Rourke’s technical drawings into components, before laser cutting and hand-finishing them for assembly.
“Being involved in a project of this scale, one that speaks to the history and culture of the region, gives you an enormous sense of pride,” the 22-year-old said.