FORTY-SIX years after she created a dramatic mural, an artist dropped into a village social club to see the artwork in all its glory.
Artist Pauline Wilkinson (nee Todd) spent four days in the autumn of 1975 creating the stunning mural, which depicted Langdon Beck, on the back wall of the lounge at Middleton-in-Teesdale Sports and Social Club.
After spotting an article in the Teesdale Mercury about the club’s lockdown renovation Mrs Wilkinson, who lives at Staindrop, got in touch with the club to see if her mural had survived.
The club’s management committee was delighted to hear from the artist and invited her along to take a look at her well-preserved “legacy”.
Sue Bainbridge, committee member, said: “There is no way we would paint over or wallpaper over the mural. It’s fantastic – part of the legacy of the club and it’s great to finally meet the artist who painted it.”
Mrs Wilkinson, who grew up at Pallet Crag Farm, near Eggleston, said: “I was so surprised to find out it was still there and it’s lovely to see it again.
“The last time I saw it would be in the late seventies. It has changed colour slightly. The green was much greener than it is now, but I guess because of the cigarette smoke over the years.”
Mrs Wilkinson, 80, used to teach adult art classes at Darlington Arts Centre and remembers being asked to create the artwork.
She added: “I would have been 34 at the time and I used to do commissioned paintings of people’s houses. I can’t remember if the mural was a commission, I just remember being asked to do it.”
Before she started the painting, Mrs Wilkinson said the committee had to approve her scenic proposal.
She said: “In those days ladies weren’t allowed into the bar and so I had to propose my idea to the committee but get someone else to put the sketch forward.
“I chose muted green grey hues for the mural as it was the seventies and if I’d used naturalist colours it would have clashed with the décor – it was all oranges and browns.
“I got them to paint the wall with a green grey emulsion and they gave me some paint and I mixed it with acrylic paint, to create the various shades of grey and grey.
“It took me about four days to do the painting. I’d come up in the morning and bring all my brushes, paint and sketch with me. One day I left my box of things and asked where I should put it and they told me the cleaner’s cupboard.
“Well the next day it wasn’t there and when I asked what could have happened, they said it was probably put out in the rubbish. It was bin day, but fortunately my box of brushes was still sat on top of the rubbish bins.”
While she was completing the painting, locals often popped their heads into the lounge to give critiques on lack of sheep and tumbled down walls.
Mrs Wilkinson added: “Some weren’t happy with the way I portrayed the dry-stone walls with rushes, but it was life in the dale there is always a stone wall needs fixing somewhere and it gave a flavour. There was one man who said, ‘Why you haven’t painted me in? I built that wall there.’ But overall I think people liked it.
Although still passionate about art Mrs Wilkinson says she only sketches occasionally.
“I love gardening and when people ask if I still paint I say yes, but with now with flowers,” she added.
