AUCTIONEERS are appealing for help to trace a mystery painter whose works will go under the hammer next week alongside a collection by one of the region's greatest artists.

Newcastle auction house Anderson and Garland's winter sale will feature seven watercolours by an artist called Ron Gribbons.

They focus on mining life in the 1940s, including scenes of Chopwell Colliery - which was then in County Durham but is now part of Gateshead borough.

John Anderson, picture specialist at the auctioneers, said: "What little we know of Ron's background we've gleaned from a book published last year by Durham mining art experts Gillian Wales and Robert McManners, called Shafts of Light.

"Despite their widespread inquiries, however, the book's authors had to conclude by saying, 'It is sad the life of a committed artist who has produced underground scenes for more than 30 years remains a mystery'."

Some of his work was sold at auction at Beamish Hall, near Stanley, County Durham, in the 1980s.

Other examples have turned up at Ashington's Woodhorn Colliery Museum, in Northumberland, the NCB Mining Museum for England and a Stoke-on-Trent mining museum.

The pieces go to auction on Tuesday, alongside 60 oils, watercolours, drawings and wood carvings by Ralph Hedley.

Born near Richmond, North Yorkshire in 1848, Hedley emerged as one of the region's favourite artists, with his works depicting Victorian life in the region.

The collection, which is expected to fetch more than £70,000, includes a painting that is widely regarded as his finest portrait - his 1884 picture of artist Henry Hetherington Emmerson, from Chester-le-Street.

Hedley was so pleased with the portrait that he decided to keep it for himself. It was never exhibited during his lifetime.

Published: 01/12/2005