Disused Mine Workings, Rhondda Valley.

This is superbly done Alan. I love the rich orange and brown tones against the blue sky, plus the bits of light here and there. This is very adventurous as well as impressionistic. Great stuff, lively.

Lovely dynamic composition Alan, very appealing.

A definite winner again Alan love the techniques and experienced eye

Probably only a miner would be able to spot any inaccuracies, and accuracy here isn't really the point - you've got the impression, and a tribute to the memory of the pits and those who worked them. My grandfather, whom I never knew, worked at the Bedwas Colliery - and died, I understand, of dust disease..... which has a much longer name, but that's what they called it. A strong painting, and much more affecting than a "photographic" representation would have been.

A very solid painting Alan, wonderful textures and mark making. I agree with Pat about the colours very lively. Love the way the wheelhousing/headgear is silhouetted against the sky.

Well Alan, what a fantastic representation of a scene I am (or was) familiar with. As an ex miner myself I can assure you that you have produced a piece here which does deserve merit for technical accuracy and artistic prowess. The ropes from the headgear would have stretched on one side to the engine house while the other side entered the shaft plunging men and materials deep into the earth. While the other set of headgear pulled the black stuff out ready for transportation to homes and power stations. These look like drift mines which had shafts diving into the ground at an angle. The pit I worked at had shafts where the ropes were attached to cages and dropped men vertically directly beneath the headgear. As Robert said, a fitting tribute to those who have since suffered with pneumoconiosis and other debilitating illnesses and industrial injuries. Great stuff and a wonderful gallery.

Wow a very atmospheric piece. Fabulous range of colours

Well, what can I say to you all but thank you. Robert and Chris, this is indeed a tribute to all those brave miner&#39;s, many of whom lost their lives in horrendous pit disasters, and of course the many other non-miner&#39;s also over the years.<br /><br />I made my statement because I&#39;m an artist and not an engineer and don&#39;t want to insult any ex-miner&#39;s whom I have the utmost respect for. ( I would refer you to my previous pit scene a few days ago and comments made), and also that that particular painting was sold within ten minutes of going live by another artist with mining connections in her family. Thank you again, Alan

Very powerful image Alan, the White cottages look very vulnerable set against the huge mine workings and that wild sky. Must have been a tough life as a miner.

Thanks Stephen, that&#39;s exactly the image that I wanted to portray. Looks like all but one of the cottages are also abandoned, very bleak outlook.

A strong, descriptive and impressive painting Alan - love it

I like your oil paintings Alan. The colours are very dramatic and you have a really nice style.

Thank you Lynne and Dympna, your comments are always appreciated.

It&#39;s been said! Excellent.

A lovely strong piece of work Alan - I really like the colours too.

This is just great Alan!! I personally don&#39;t care about accuracy, it&#39;s the overall impression that counts and it certainly works here. I love it!

Very powerful and dramatic

Alan, this is also another evocative painting of a scene very close to my heart. Your comment about accuracy is interesting to me…being a very technical and tight oil painter, I envy the freedom, expression and &#39;artistic licence&#39; in others. Your colours in this piece are so atmospheric. You seem to have captured the warmth of a mining community in the foreground with their dark and threatening nature in the background. Very clever.

Thank you Sarah, appreciated.

A brilliant abstract approach to an industry that enriched our country but sadly did not enrich the miners and families. Well done for capturing the power.

I was born and brought up here, Alan, and I love your interpretation. There were about 100 mines at its peak in the Rhondda. My father worked alongside HIS father on the coal face. He was 14 years old and spent his days on his knees and up to his waist in water in the dark!!!!! Nothing romantic about it at all! Your painting has no romance in it, and I love that.