A shared canvas for art and heritage

Two of the North East’s leading cultural venues have joined forces to bring contemporary art to the heart of Northumberland. Wooler-based Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery and Newcastle’s The Biscuit Factory have launched a new exhibition showcasing the work of three acclaimed painters. Celebrating creativity and craftsmanship, the partnership aims to bring art to new audiences and create fresh opportunities for artists across the region.

There is something fitting about bringing contemporary art into a building dedicated to celebrating centuries of craftsmanship.

At Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery in Wooler, the relationship between history, creativity and the people who shape them has always been central to the visitor experience.

Now, a new partnership with Newcastle’s The Biscuit Factory is adding another dimension to that story, bringing original artworks, exhibitions and cultural events to north Northumberland.

The collaboration was celebrated yesterday evening (Thursday, October 22), when invited guests gathered for a private preview of Modern Classics, the first exhibition curated by The Biscuit Factory outside its Ouseburn home in almost 25 years.

The evening offered an opportunity to explore paintings by three contemporary artists – Paula Dunn, Angelo Murphy and Garry Courtnell – before guests came together for dinner at Ad Gefrin’s Bēodern Supper Club.

For Eileen Ferguson, co-founder of Ad Gefrin, the partnership brings together two of her personal passions.

Speaking at the preview, she described the combination of art and Ad Gefrin as “stunning”, encouraging guests to enjoy the evening and the creativity being celebrated.

Her enthusiasm reflects the ambition behind the collaboration, which will see The Biscuit Factory curate exhibitions, conversations and gatherings at the £16 million Northumberland attraction.

Rachel Brown, director of The Biscuit Factory, told guests that the partnership was about more than simply finding another space to exhibit artwork.

She said: “This partnership has been brought together by a shared appreciation of the importance of craft, culture and community.

“As independent heritage and arts organisations, we know that what we do is about so much more than the transactional.

“It’s about the relationships we build, the people we bring together, the ideas we champion, the spaces we create and the conversations we start.”

Eileen Ferguson, right, and Rachel Brown welcome guests to the Modern Classics exhibition preview at Ad Gefrin

Those shared values are evident in the two organisations’ approaches to creativity.

While one showcases contemporary art and the other celebrates Northumberland’s Anglo-Saxon heritage and produces whisky, both place considerable importance on traditional skills, materials, patience and the creative process.

Eileen previously explained: “Whisky making is as much an art as it is a science, matured through craft and time.

“We recognise the many parallels with contemporary art practice.

“Joining with such a prestigious partner as The Biscuit Factory could not have come at a more exciting time, as we begin to release our Single Malt.”

The first opportunity to see that philosophy brought to life is Modern Classics, which opened today (Friday, October 23) and runs until Sunday, December 13.

The exhibition explores light, atmosphere and the relationship between everyday subjects and the natural world, bringing together three artists whose individual styles demonstrate how traditional techniques can produce contemporary results.

Artists Angelo Murphy, Paula Dunn and Garry Courtnell, whose works feature in the Modern Classics exhibition

Among them is Yorkshire-based landscape painter Paula Dunn, who attended the private preview and subsequent supper club, and whose work is influenced by walking, weather and the changing character of the countryside.

Working predominantly with oils and cold wax, Paula creates layered paintings that explore the atmosphere and emotional qualities of a landscape rather than simply reproducing what the eye sees.

Her approach has developed from more representational paintings towards increasingly abstract interpretations of place, using texture, colour and light to evoke memories and experiences, with delicate touches of gold leaf adding another dimension to each of her works on display.

Paula’s work has appeared in private collections internationally, while her 2025 book, Atmospheric Landscapes: Using Oils and Cold Wax, explores the techniques and creative processes behind her paintings.

She also took part in a special In Conversation With event at Ad Gefrin earlier today, offering visitors an insight into her inspirations and artistic journey.

Alongside Paula’s work are paintings by Angelo Murphy, an award-winning contemporary artist specialising in still life.

Angelo draws inspiration from ordinary objects, using carefully controlled light and shadow to transform familiar subjects into striking compositions.

His work is influenced by chiaroscuro, a technique associated with the dramatic contrasts between light and darkness found in Baroque painting.

By combining traditional methods with contemporary subjects, Angelo creates paintings that invite viewers to reconsider the beauty and significance of everyday objects.

His achievements include recognition in the Jackson’s Painting Prize in 2022 and the Nottingham Lakeside Arts Open in 2018, while his paintings feature in private collections in the UK and overseas.

Completing the exhibition is Garry Courtnell, whose work includes atmospheric landscapes and studies of the natural world.

Working with oils and acrylics, Garry explores the relationship between light, colour and place, creating paintings that capture the character and atmosphere of his subjects while bringing a distinctive perspective to the exhibition.

Together, the three artists offer different interpretations of familiar subjects, demonstrating how observation, technical skill and individual creativity can transform everyday scenes into original works.

During the preview, Rachel explained the thinking behind the selection of the three painters.

She said: “We invited these specific artists to create work for this exhibition for many reasons.

“Whilst distinct in their respective styles, their work demonstrates the value they place in process, building on traditional techniques to create contemporary works.”

The artworks are displayed throughout Ad Gefrin’s public spaces, including its Bēodern bistro, allowing visitors to encounter the paintings as part of their wider experience.

Admission is free, and all the pieces are available to purchase throughout the exhibition.

For Rachel, bringing contemporary art beyond Newcastle is an opportunity to make those encounters possible for a wider audience.

She told guests: “Bringing our gallery out of the city and into Northumberland widens this conversation and creates new encounters between artists, art, and audiences.

“But the heart of this collaboration is a belief that community is something we actively create.

“In this instance, by making space for different voices and giving people new reasons to gather and experience something together.”

Established in 2002, The Biscuit Factory occupies a converted Victorian warehouse in Newcastle’s Ouseburn cultural quarter, showcasing work by hundreds of artists and makers.

Its exhibitions, workshops and cultural events have helped build relationships between artists and audiences for almost a quarter of a century.

The partnership with Ad Gefrin represents a new chapter in that journey, extending the gallery’s reach into rural Northumberland.

Rachel previously said: “Taking the gallery out of the city allows us to provide rural access to contemporary art.

“The Biscuit Factory has worked for nearly 25 years in the pursuit of accessibility, providing a platform for thousands of artists and programming that encourages a broad range of visitors to our Ouseburn gallery.

“Having a base in Northumberland means we can provide more opportunities for our artists and a programme of cultural events to a wider regional audience.”

For Ad Gefrin, the exhibition complements its wider commitment to celebrating the region’s heritage and creativity.

The award-winning attraction combines a working whisky distillery with a museum exploring Northumberland’s Anglo-Saxon Golden Age, providing a distinctive setting for contemporary artwork.

And while Modern Classics is the first exhibition to emerge from the collaboration, both organisations hope it will lead to further opportunities for artists and visitors to connect.

Speaking at the preview, Rachel emphasised the importance of everyone involved in bringing the partnership to life, from the artists and organisers to those choosing to support the exhibition.

She added: “Art and culture thrive because people choose to show up, get involved and support what others are doing.

“Your presence and curiosity are what give initiatives like this their meaning.

“We hope that this is the beginning of an ongoing conversation.”

It is a sentiment that captures the ambition of a partnership seeking to achieve more than simply displaying paintings in a new location.

By bringing contemporary art into a setting already shaped by history, craftsmanship and hospitality, Ad Gefrin and The Biscuit Factory are creating new opportunities for visitors to discover the region’s creative talent.

And as Modern Classics welcomes its first public visitors, the exhibition represents not just the beginning of a new cultural programme, but the start of a wider conversation about the role art can play in connecting people and places.

Modern Classics runs at Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery in Wooler until December 13, with free admission throughout the exhibition. Find out more here.

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