A disused coal mine in Wales. by Steven Ponsford

Terrific picture. Part of our industrial past,I hear your comments but dont you think they are rather magnificent? They must have inspired you to paint this picture so well . I think mining as a job must have been horrifying, but so many jobs were and are. Deep sea fishermen, Working in foundries, even in cotton mills in Lancashire, a lot of what made this country great. How big is the picture? I do hope that your father in law enjoys it.

I like the colours you have used here and the industrial subject has a domestic feel with a free and loose style . I have a pastel of tin miners working underground in a Cornish mine which was painted by an artist called John Scott Martin. He normally specialises in marine subjects but after visisting these mines he did a series of work based on rocks and mine workings. I somehow am attracted to these subjects. I think it is people who do dangerous jobs, and have such a different life experience in their world of work. Sebastio Salgado who is a well known photographer, created a book called The Workers which again has photos of people in industrial settings. I bought a copy, but I have seen it in the local library if you wanted to have a look. anyway well done you I liked this subject.

Another gem, Steven! You really have mastered this pen and wash business - haven't you. Such an interesting subject as well. Really well done.

A positive, dramatic painting. Well done.