He was the preferred artist of Sunderland AFC and the old Vaux brewery. Now, Ron Davidson is finally being honoured with an exhibition of his work.

Known to generations of Wearsiders for his Vaux pub signs and paintings of SAFC and city life, Ron Davidson passed away in 2024, aged 88, and was a much-loved character in Sunderland.

Into the Light is one of Ron's most famous pieces for SAFC and hangs in the boardroom | Submitted

placeholder image — Into the Light is one of Ron's most famous pieces for SAFC and hangs in the boardroom | Submitted

Earlier this month, we reported on how his daughter, Janet, has curated the first large-scale exhibition of her dad’s work alongside David Williams from Calico Images.

And here’s some images of the exhibition in situ, ahead of it going on show this Bank Holiday weekend in Barnard Castle, where Ron spent his final years.

Ron’s vast body of work includes Into the Light, which hangs in the boardroom at the Stadium of Light and of which the club commissioned 25,000 prints at the time, with profits donated to St Cuthbert’s Hospice.

Janet alongside the her Dad's artworks from Vaux Breweries and Sunderland AFC | Submitted

The original painting will be on display at the exhibition, as well as Farewell to Roker Park and other SAFC pieces.

Former SAFC chairman Sir Bob Murray CBE said:“Ron was a talented craftsman and a proud Sunderland supporter, and I always admired the care and pride he put into his work for the club.

“Pieces like Into The Light and his tributes to Roker Park captured something truly special about Sunderland and its football heritage. He was part of the fabric of the club during an important time in our history. It is fitting that his life’s work is being celebrated in this way.”

Ron ran his picture framing shop on Sea Road for years and is also well-known for his distinctive pub signage for Vaux Brewery.

Artist Ron Davidson photographed by the Echo in 2015 | Sunderland Echo

During the heyday of the original Vaux Brewery, when they had around 600 pubs, Ron was approached to paint a pub sign and once it was completed was immediately asked for more.

One of his most famous hung outside the Brewery Tap in Sunderland city centre, before the pub was sadly demolished.

Former Vaux MD Frank Nicholson said: "Ron was a valued part of the brewery and his brilliant artwork adorned very many of our pubs in the form of the pictorial signs that he painted so skilfully.”

Taking place on Sunday, May 3 and Bank Holiday Monday, May 4, the exhibition features a lifetime of paintings and sculpture and is on show from 10am to 4pm on both days at Romaldkirk Reading Rooms in Barnard Castle.

Entry is free, with the chance to raise cash for Ron's favoured charity, The Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Visitors will see Ron's work, from his early days painting hundreds of pub signs and creating interiors for Vaux Breweries, to his work for Sunderland AFC and his seascapes of the north east coastline, through to his later years inspired by the beautiful and ever-changing light in Teesdale.

Over 200 original paintings, giclee prints and a big selection of watercolour cards are available to buy during the event.