ON DISPLAY: Paul Collingwood’s picture of High Force
ON DISPLAY: Paul Collingwood’s picture of High Force

IMAGES of the North Pennines landscape captured by keen photographers have gone on display at a free exhibition.

Photographers were invited by the North Pennines AONB Partnership to snap their favourite North Pennines view as part of a competition called Framing the Land.

The winning and shortlisted entries will be on display at the Witham, in Barnard Castle, until October 26.

Entrants were asked to capture the geology and landscape, reflecting the characteristics that led to the area being designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and UNESCO Global Geopark.

The winner of the adult category was Les Mann with

his picture of winter at Bollihope.

The under-18s winner was A-Level photography student Sam Pounder, from Wolsingham, with a picture of the Hush art installation by Steve Messam.

The overall winner of the public vote was Paul Collingwood with his picture of High Force.

Mr Mann said: “To me the area has got everything: it is incredibly beautiful but parts of it can be quite harsh with industrial scars which have now grown into the landscape.”

Mr Pounder said: “I was really inspired by seeing the Hush installation in Teesdale.”

Mr Collingwood added: “It’s always an honour when people appreciate your work.”

The panel of judges was made up of Trevor Brookes, editor of the Teesdale Mercury; Christine Burridge, North Pennines Geopark Advisory Group/North East Geological Society; Andrew Charlton, Wolsingham Show photography section judge; Will Dawes, photographer based at Allendale Forge Studios; and Louise Taylor, Wideyed Collective.

The competition and exhibition have been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.