Last updated at 20:00, Thursday, 02 August 2012

A Dearham woman’s photographs of abandoned places in West Cumbria have gone on display at Debenhams in Workington.

ON SHOW: Dearham artist Gemma Hilton, centre, with Debenhams store manager Steven Gibson and café manager Nicola Woodier

Gemma Hilton, 23, who has been a food service advisor for the café at the store on Risman Place for six years, is the first person to have her work displayed on the café’s new artists’ wall.

It will feature works by a different local artist every month.

The exhibition You Know Yesterday features photographs of the brick and tile works, the explosive store and the mother pit, all at Birkby, an old service garage near Dearham and Rydal Cave.

Miss Hilton, of Newlands Park, who finished her degree in fine art at the University of Cumbria in 2011, said: “My work is based on abandoned places which were once thriving and have now been reclaimed by nature.

“Some of the places were hidden or camouflaged. They reflect my journey and search for those places as well as finding them.”

Nicola Woodier, café manager, said: “We had the blank wall and thought it would make a great space to display artwork.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity for local artists to promote their work and we would encourage more local artists to get involved.”

First published at 19:22, Thursday, 02 August 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk