Snappers surfing along on the crest of a wave

Oct 16 2010 by Andy Hughes, The Journal

THESE striking pictures will be featured in a special exhibition giving an insight into the North East’s surfing heritage.

The North East Surfing exhibition will be on show in an empty shop in the seaside town’s Front Street to coincide with the Tynemouth Surf Film Festival.

It features the work of Journal photographer Lewis Arnold and two colleagues who are prominent members of the region’s surfing community.

Lewis, 39, John Millard, 38, and Stu Norton, 38, said the exhibition aims to showcase the North East as one of the best places in the world to surf.

Lewis said: “Surfing photography is different from any other type of photography in the world. It’s the only thing which mixes landscape, fine art and sport.”

The exhibition will be open during the film festival which will show films at Tynemouth’s Priory Theatre on Saturday and Sunday. Next weekend Tynemouth will host the UK Pro Surf Tour, featuring some of the world’s leading surfers.