L S Lowry is one of Britain’s most recognisable artists, best known for his industrial landscapes populated by primitive human figures, often referred to as ‘matchstick men’. However, the sea was a constant presence in Lowry’s life. During his childhood he enjoyed regular family holidays on the Lancashire coast and later travelled extensively throughout Britain, regularly visiting the northeast. He first visited Berwick-upon-Tweed in the mid-1930s and, drawn by its clear air and views out to the North Sea, continued to visit the town until his death in 1976.

The first curated exhibition of his works in the town for ten years, Lowry and the Sea at The Granary Gallery explores the artist’s connection to Berwick and his life-long fascination with the sea. The exhibition includes works on loan from The Lowry in Salford, The Arts Council Collection and several private collections, from early pastel sketches to his later ‘empty seascapes’.