Sculpture to make public debut at Woodhorn's Miners' Picnic

A landmark sculpture honouring the North East's mining heritage will be unveiled to the public for the first time at Woodhorn Museum's Northumberland Miners' Picnic this weekend.

The Northumbrian Miner is the vision of internationally renowned sculptor and Northumbria University graduate Dr John O’Rourke and features the figure of a miner surrounded by pit village houses and industrial structures.

Over the last three years a scale ‘maquette’ or model of the sculpture has been produced in the engineering workshops of Northumbria, with many of the students involved going on to build careers on the strength of the experience.

The proposed full sculpture would be made from Corten steel, the same material as the Angel of the North, and would stand at 12.3 metres tall, making it one of the most significant public artworks in the region.

A site near Bedlington on the River Blyth has been identified as a possible location for the structure, with funding now being sought to make the project a reality.

A number of Northumbria undergraduate Engineering students have been involved in producing the maquette – creating detailed 3D CAD models of the different components from John's original drawings and scale models.

Six students in total have contributed, four through formal internships and two as volunteers, gaining hands-on skills in CAD, model making, manufacturing, and machining.

Among those involved is Ali Alamin, a 22-year-old Mechanical Engineering student due to graduate later this year.

Working as an intern on the project since June last year, Ali translated Dr O'Rourke's technical drawings into precise 2D and 3D CAD components, before laser cutting and hand-finishing them for assembly – taking theory from his studies and applying it to precise, hands-on engineering work.

He said: "Being involved in a project of this scale, one that speaks to the history and culture of the region, gives you an enormous sense of pride.

“Applying principles I'd studied at university to real technical challenges developed my skills in ways that classroom learning alone couldn't. Hands-on experience like this is invaluable for students.”

Also among those who contributed is Christos Katsidis, who worked on the project for around four months while completing his Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technologies MSc at Northumbria. His role involved converting existing 3D models into 2D profiles for laser cutting and making design adjustments to simplify assembly.

Christos graduated in 2025 and is now employed as a design engineer at Morfabrication in Washington – a role he credits in part to the experience gained on the project.

He said: "The Northumbrian Miner helped me massively when looking for a job. It allowed me to build real experience using Autodesk Inventor, which is the main software used at my current workplace, and that familiarity came in very handy during the practical part of my interview.

"As a student it's incredibly important to try to do as much as you can to set yourself above the rest. Being able to apply your knowledge and practise with industry software will not only make you more employable, but it will also make you a better engineer."

Since graduating from Northumbria University with a Master of Fine Arts in 1989, John O'Rourke has gone on to become one of the region's most distinctive sculptors, with works including Sentius Tectonicus – a 2.8-metre Corten steel Roman centurion at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, marking the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall.

Speaking about the project, he said: "This sculpture is about the people of this region – their history, their labour, their transition into a new future – and it has taken a community effort to bring it this far.

“I'm enormously grateful to Northumbria University, to the students who brought my drawings to life in CAD, to the technical team in the workshops, and to Professor Martin Birkett for making our residency and the internship programme possible.”

Dr Heather Robson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education (Interim) at Northumbria University said: “This project is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when creativity and a deep sense of place come together.

“Watching our students apply their skills to something so rooted in the identity of this region is exactly why meaningful, experiential learning matters. We are proud that Northumbria University has played part in bringing this vision closer to reality.”

The maquette will be unveiled at Woodhorn Museum's Northumberland Miners' Picnic on Saturday 13 June, where it is expected to be seen by at least 2,000 visitors.

The picnic is one of the most important gatherings in the region's cultural calendar, making it a fitting moment to introduce a sculpture that aims to honour the mining communities of Northumberland and Durham and mark the region's transition into a new era of clean energy.

Jo Raw, Northumberland Venues Manager, North East Museums, said: “The Northumberland Miners' Picnic is one of the region's longest-running and best-loved events, bringing together music, performance, arts and culture for a day of remembrance, community and celebration of the region's industrial past.

“It's a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to explore stories from our mining communities and connect with our shared heritage through the creativity, culture and community spirit that continue to shape the North East today.”

The Northumbrian Miner project has been supported by Northumbria University, which has provided workspace, materials, equipment, and student resource.

A small pro bono team, including engineer Dr Colin Herron CBE, architect Mike Gilfillan RIBA FRSA, and a specialist public projects lawyer, has worked alongside John and the university to develop the project.

The proposed full sculpture is estimated to cost around £3 million, with funding now being sought to make the project a reality. The sculpture would be sited at a location within the North East.

One suggestion would be near the recently opened Northumbria rail line, visible to an estimated 500,000 passengers a year.

The interior of the sculpture will include hidden chambers, with a large space within the ribcage. Members of mining communities will be invited to have their words and memories engraved on its interior walls.

The project is currently seeking a regional champion and funding partners to bring the full sculpture to life. To find out more, please contact Colin Herron at colin.herron58@gmail.com