AN artist who chooses to remain anonymous has been commissioned to capture North-East engineering icons.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North-East has hired the anonymous travelling County Durham artist - known as a limner - to paint a dozen engineering icons as part of an annual celebration of the work of its members.

He has started work on paintings of a dozen North-East icons, including the Transporter Bridge, Tyne Bridges, Causey Arch and the Port of Blyth.

He is painting them in acrylic, doing all of his work at the site and from life. The paintings will be turned into a calendar, and will also be used as prizes for the Robert Stephenson Awards at ICE's annual dinner.

The dinner, attended by ICE's national president, Gordon Masterson, will take place in Newcastle on May 4.

It will see winners and runners-up named in two categories, for projects costing less and more than £2m, completed within 24 months of the November 2005 closing date.

Mike Tweedle, chairman of ICE North-East, said: "These paintings will celebrate some amazing icons of the North-East. Our members have much to be proud of and we are sure the president will be highly impressed with the region's civil engineering achievements."

During his two-day visit to the region, Mr Masterson will take part in a competition with ICE North-East's graduates and students committee, held at Teesside University.

Teams of graduates and students will compete against Mr Masterson and institution members, building structures from metal cans.

For more information about the work of the limner, visit www.thelimnerscontract.com

Published: 28/04/2006