Striking lamplight drawings bring Britain’s mining heritage to life at the National Coal Mining Museum
A unique new exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum for England is illuminating the powerful story of life underground through a remarkable collection of charcoal drawings created entirely by lamplight.
Working by Lamplight, an exhibition by artist Matt Sayers, is now open and runs until September 20, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience the atmosphere and unique surroundings of working in Britain’s industrial coal mines through a series of evocative artworks inspired by the museum’s historic Caphouse Colliery.
Created under the glow of a miner’s lamp in his Cannock studio, the charcoal drawings capture the dramatic spaces, hidden beauty and enduring legacy of Britain’s mining heritage.
By drawing entirely by lamplight, he recreates the limited visibility miners experienced beneath the surface.
Working exclusively on brown paper and using charcoal as his primary medium, Mr Sayers employs a distinctive artistic process that mirrors the sensory experience of life underground.
His work brings to life a world that has largely disappeared from modern Britain while celebrating the resilience, skill and camaraderie of mining communities.
His highly detailed depictions of shafts, roadways and industrial landscapes have been praised by former miners for their historical accuracy and ability to capture the atmosphere of underground working life.
For this exhibition, Mr Sayers has created a new body of work inspired directly by the museum’s authentic colliery site and its renowned underground experience, which descend 140 metres below ground.
The visual journey begins above the surface with sweeping views from the Pony Discovery Centre, covers the industrial landscape of the former colliery, and explores the striking orange waters of the Mine Water Treatment Plant before following visitors underground into the heart of the mine.
Complimenting the exhibition, Mr Sayers’ contemporary works are displayed alongside rarely seen pieces from the museum’s outstanding collection. These include Marjorie Arnfield’s study of the screens, Tom Lamb’s depiction of miners eating their bait and Harry Hicken’s powerful monotype prints portraying underground life.
Together, the artworks create a compelling journey across generations of artists whose work has documented and interpreted mining communities.
As part of Heritage Open Days, visitors can also enjoy a special Meet the Artist event on Saturday, September 12 from 10am to 3pm.
Mr Sayers said: "In this exhibition, I aim to show the beautiful side of hard graft and darkness, from 460 feet underground through to the present day.
"These are places that have been left for future generations to explore and experience, helping us understand Britain’s industrial history and the people who lived and worked within it."
Lynn Dunning, CEO of the National Coal Mining Museum for England, said: “Matt’s work is truly special.
"He captures the atmosphere of underground mines with remarkable skill, bringing the people, places and stories of coal mining vividly to life.
"We are delighted to showcase these powerful and distinctive artworks, which are available to buy in the shop, and I am sure they will resonate strongly with anyone connected to Britain’s mining communities.”