THROUGHOUT the 1970s Norman and Moira Wade’s art shop brought a touch of bohemia to Durham City centre.

Moira managed the shop in Saddler Street on the route to the cathedral, bringing in Norman’s work, framing it, and selling pieces on to satisfied customers. Norman made appearances at the shop, and was famed for his pipe smoking and friendly disposition.

Now, several years after his death, Norman’s work is going to be sold to benefit Durham Cathedral, the building he spent so many hours of his lifetime painting.

The cathedral is holding a selling exhibition of original prints featuring Norman’s work.

It will feature prints of the cathedral and the city of Durham but also moves further afield. Subjects include Lindisfarne Priory, Bamburgh Castle, York Minister, St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle, the Ship Inn at Wallsend, the Tyne Bridge, St Mary’s Lighthouse at Whitley Bay, Kelso Abbey in the Scottish Borders and Fountains Abbey near Ripon.

Norman was born in London and trained as a graphic designer. After he met Moira, who worked in the art trade, the couple moved north, initially to the Lakes, where he pursued a career as an artist.

After a spell in Gosforth, Newcastle, they moved to Low Etherley in Bishop Auckland. This period saw Norman develop his own distinctive style using various screen printing techniques creating unusual textures and patterns.

He concentrated on images of buildings and landscapes across the North of England, but in particular scenes of Durham Cathedral.

After a decade in Durham, Norman became concerned that although his works continued to be popular, he was often torn between aesthetic sensibilities and creating work to sell.

He and Moira decided to close the shop and move to Spain in 1980, enjoying its sunshine until his health started to fail. They moved back to the UK, settling in Coldstream in the Scottish borders.

Norman died several years ago, followed by Moira last year.

She had decided that upon her death, Norman’s remaining artwork should be gifted to Durham Cathedral with an instruction to use the work to the benefit of the cathedral. This exhibition is a selling exhibition with money raised going into the cathedral’s Fabric Fund, where it will be used to maintain and conserve this wonderful building that Norman loved.

Canon David Kennedy, Vice-Dean of Durham, a theology student in Durham while Norman’s shop was open throughout the 1970s, said: “For my generation of undergraduates, Norman Wade’s shop on Saddler Street provided not only constantly changing new perspectives on this wonderful city, but also the perfect visual memento of our time in Durham.

“Durham Cathedral would be delighted to hear from anyone who knew Norman Wade, his wife Moira, or has knowledge of his work.”

Charlotte Rowbotham, the cathedral’s exhibition and events officer, said: “The work bequeathed to the cathedral is dated from the early 1960s up to and including the early 1990s. We are trying to find out more about him and his time in the city.”

Norman Wade – Originals runs in the Galilee Chapel at Durham Cathedral from November 29 to January 8 next year.