WILLIAM FEAVER ON THE PITMEN PAINTERS 

The Ashington Group, mainly pitmen from the mid-Northumberland coal field, embarked in 1934 on what was termed \'an experiment in art education\' : painting for themselves. Their work attracted the attention of surrealists, modernists, documentary photographers and Mass Observers. William Feaver became involved with the Group decades ago and his book about them is the basis of a play by Lee \'Billy Elliot\' Hall that has been through three seasons at the National Theatre (Best New Play: Evening Standard awards) and, after a national tour, is to transfer to Broadway. This lecture is about the Group, their art and their aspirations.