Andy Martin is well known in the city for seeing the beauty in scenes many of us pass by without thought, such as his series of images of derelict buildings and echoes of the industrial past in Sunderland.
Now, he’s won the Northumberland Open Exhibition 2026, which has just opened at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington.
He won the overall submission for The Circus and the Graveyard, Peterlee (2024).
The striking image depicts gravestones in a Peterlee graveyard at night, contrasted with the vivid lights of a circus taking place in the adjacent field.
Narbi Price, a painter, curator, lecturer and selection panel member, described the winning work:“Andy Martin's winning photograph has a brilliant combination of factors.
“Not only is it excellently executed technically and formally, but the intense colours and harmonious composition draw us into the coal-black humour of the jarring juxtaposition.”
5. Andy on location in Peterlee
With a strong passion for much of the North East, its industry and people, Andy's extensive body of work, spanning almost 20 years, is a record of the area seen from a unique perspective. He is especially drawn to working alongside marginalised communities who are still living through the cultural, social and economic changes of the region, helping to give them a platform to tell their stories. | Carl Joyce
6. Annie Kennerley, A Seat Left Warm
The exhibition features 568 artworks by more than 280 artists, including painters, sculptors, glassmakers and multidisciplinary creatives, celebrating the depth and breadth of artistic talent across the region. | Colin Davison Photography
7. Opening hours
Woodhorn Museum is open Wednesday to Sundays, 10am – 4pm. During Northumberland School Holidays, the venue is also open on Mondays and Tuesday, 10am – 4pm. Admission is £11 (£10 without optional donation) for adults, £10 (£9 without optional donation) concessions, and children under 18 are free. Tickets are an Annual Pass, which allows unlimited visits for the next 12 months. | Colin Davison Photography