Art from the Lens gallery

18/09/2026

Broken up but reunited, these original vintage photographs of the North East coast contain so much history and social detail.
From Short Sands to Long Sands, the beach became a place of escape, health and art as much as a place of survival and food.
This slice of history shows all of the above, from the best hat, the polished boot, the shade of the umbrella, the resting boats and bathing hut wheels.
A place so familiar and yet so different.

Will be at the
on 25th October

17/09/2026

16/09/2026

Because people are so busy looking busy and important we have forgotten what is important.
Millions of years of evolution created a brain that reached beyond the stars.
Now being lazy is creating a new brain that will have our kill switch.

15/09/2026

Slightly faded, but the ghosts of the past come to life in this original vintage albumen photograph of the crowds surrounding the new Cullercoats lifeboat.
Part of the rescued album that featured a series of views of the coast.

13/09/2026

Another original vintage photograph from a broken up album and now kept together.
Another shipwreck on the edge of Longsands between Tynemouth and Cullercoats around 1880/90's.
Holding this albumen photograph is a pleasure as you can feel the energy and power of the sea, whilst the light is a lesson of the reality of Turner's paintings of storms.
The composition, including the marker echoing a cross whilst the ship is overcome by the power of the waves, says it all about the helplessness people on the shore would have felt, hoping the lifeboat had saved the crew.

13/09/2026

The gallery will be there with some amazing new stock and this time the gallery will be adding a touch of Hollywood and beyond to the display

12/09/2026

The Iron Crown, built in Jarrow, was heading back to port from Hamburg, when a storm picked up the 995 ton vessel and drove her onto the rocks.
October 20th 1881 and the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade with the support of hundreds of locals, launched the lifeboat into the estuary.
Rowing the boat towards the breaking ship. Using rockets and a breeches buoy, they rescued the crew, one member having been believed lost.
After rowing back to shore through gale force winds, the missing crew member was seen on deck.
The crew turned the boat around into the sea and rescued Carl Kopp.
This is an original vintage photograph of the crew in the River Tyne estuary.
It will be on display at the Vintage Fair on the 25th October at along with other original photographs of the coast.
No scans, no illegal downloads, just original photographs telling their story

10/09/2026

They are launching a boat at Cullercoats upon the high tide
To save the unknown brother and sister,
Father, son and daughter.
For all who sail the sea are of one family .

Apologies to and for changing the lyrics a bit

1889/90 and the crowds gathered around the harbour and cliffs to witness the launch of the new lifeboat at Cullercoats.
For local civic pride told the story of empty graves, families across the seas torn apart or a sudden rope or hand pulling a life from the sea.
Volunteer daring and risking their own life, for the sea cares not for race, religion or gender, we are fleas daring to feed upon her skin.
Go back far enough, each one of our ancestors were once given a hand to escape the sea.

This is an original vintage photograph and will be on show at the Vintage Fair on the 25th October.

09/09/2026

From humble beginnings in Queens Street to the full blown remodel and new location, this original vintage photograph of York Railway station is a real gem.
Besides the train line, this building is linked to Newcastle as one of its architects and designers, also did the early designs for Newcastle, including the Portico, Thomas Prosper, who died in Gateshead in 1888.
The creation of mega stations, like Newcastle and York, also lead to the death of many smaller stations nearby, especially as public transport options grew.
Also known locally as the Geordie away special for race week, hen nights and stag do's

07/09/2026

Where hares graze, crows called, hedges whispering about the delayed train as the river slips slowly by muttering about the upstart canal and it's fancy ways.
You have to love an old English parish name from a manor no longer standing. No village, just farms and tiny hamlet groups of homes.
Fisherwick.