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Heading leading onto a coal face, drawing
Davies, William John (Chopper) (William John ‘Chopper’ Davies was born in Nantyglo in 1922. He left school at 14 to work in Beynon’s Colliery. He was working in Six Bells Colliery in 1960 when an explosion killed 45 men. He would have been among the dead but had worked overtime the night before and had taken the day off. He produced many works based on his experiences as a mineworker. In his auto biography ‘Blue Scars’, Chopper wrote ‘I am not a Lowry or a Picasso but I put the same passion into my paintings as they do …’ He died in 2006.)
Crayon/pastel on paper drawing of a heading leading onto a coal face (1950s/1980s) at Six Bells Colliery. A team of three coal miners are working to extend the heading as the coal face advances two of the men are 'ripping' down the rock, one with a 'puncher' (pneumatic pick) and one with a steel 'ripping bar' (long steel bar). Signed 'Chopper' bottom right. Undated. Mounted, framed and glazed.
Collection Area
Industry
Item Number
2010.40/1
Creation/Production
Davies, William John (Chopper)
Date: 20th century
Acquisition
Purchase, 19/5/2010
Measurements
frame
(mm): 580
frame
(mm): 683
frame
(mm): 23
Techniques
pencil on paper
painting and drawing
crayon on paper
painting and drawing
Material
paper
card
wood
glass
Location
In store
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