A Gentle nod to ‘our man Aidan’.
24th MAR – 24th MAY 2025 – NAC SHOWCASE.
Born and bred in Newcastle, Dr. Aidan Doyle first studied at Bath Lane, Newcastle, in 1973 before graduating from Winchester School of Art in 1977 with a degree in Fine Art. Combining his artistic practice with other activities, he later worked as a labourer and then as a photographer in coal mines. He also worked in theatres, hospitals, construction sites, river restoration programmes, botanical gardens, libraries, and even on the set of Ken Loach’s award winning film Sorry We Missed You in 2019.
His photographs taken at the time of colliery closures in the 1990s have been exhibited in a solo exhibition at Side Gallery, Newcastle in 2005, and other UK venues. They are the subject of a book, ‘Sacrifice Achievement Gratitude* published by Durham County in 1997. He also authored several other publications about mining and material culture.
After obtaining a PhD in Sociology from Durham University in 2001 he spent time as a Senior Research Associate at Newcastle University, then with the United Nations as a member of the UK National Commission for UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development Forum, and later with former mining communities in England and Wales, as well as the Irish Government. Aidan drew on these experiences to inform his painting practice – documenting and portraying these various work worlds
video from watermark exhibiton 2022
Having travelled with his sketchbook extensively through Ireland and Italy, his later years saw him dedicate his time mostly to walking, cycling and painting along the River Tyne, becoming familiar with the lanes and byways that were well known to one of his favourite artists, Thomas Bewick.
“Enchantment is to be found in the relationships of people, individuals and groups, to their surroundings. It is the artist’s responsibility to identify and reflect upon these unique qualities that give O feeling of belonging, or a sense of delight. When one looks for beauty it is never hard to find”.
