50 years of local life captured by artist Charlie Rogers

Nov 2 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

FOR almost 50 years, artist Charlie Rogers has been recording Tyneside street life.

Charlie, who was born near Saltwell Park in Gateshead and who now lives in Low Fell, made his first sketch of a back lane behind the Five Wands pub in Bensham in the town.

The 80-year-old artist has exhibited four times at the Royal Academy, once at the Royal Scottish Academy and is a life member of Gateshead Art Society. Now 20 of his paintings are to go on sale at Anderson and Garland’s Newcastle auction rooms tomorrow.

They include images of Newcastle’s Hoppings, the Grainger Market, Bigg Market, Guildhall, Quayside, Gateshead Old Town Hall and St Mary’s Church.

But many of Charlie’s works have been of street scenes and local characters.