Tom Hume Retrospective: Celebrating the Life and Vision of a Remarkable Durham Artist at Ushaw

This autumn, visit a moving celebration of the life and work of Durham artist Tom Hume. This first-ever retrospective brings together a lifetime of creativity, precision, and passion.

Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens is proud to present Tom Hume: Retrospective, the first comprehensive exhibition of the work of Tom Hume (1942–2023), the celebrated Durham-based artist and art teacher whose creative legacy spanned portraiture, figurative subjects, and meticulously designed abstract works.

This major retrospective, co-curated by Ushaw and the artist’s widow, Barbara Hume, brings together a lifetime of artistic exploration and personal insight. Featuring oil paintings, preparatory drawings, and sketchbooks, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to trace Hume’s evolution as an artist and educator deeply connected to the North East’s creative community.

Tom Hume’s art is characterised by his technical precision, emotional depth, and sensitivity to light and colour. His later work embraced abstraction, distilling complex emotions into geometric harmony, a testament to his lifelong search for visual balance and meaning.

In a poignant chapter of his story, Hume’s final painting was gifted to the doctor who saved his sight, a gesture of gratitude that reflected both his humility and his profound love of observing and creating. Hume passed away in October 2023 at the age of 81, following a cardiac arrest while swimming in Seaham Harbour,  an activity he loved and often drew inspiration from.

Speaking about the exhibition, Andrew Heard, Visitor Programmes Manager at Ushaw, said:

“Tom Hume’s work represents a lifetime’s devotion to art, not only in his own practice but through the many students and fellow artists he inspired. This exhibition is a moving tribute to his vision and vitality. Visitors will find themselves drawn into the honesty, craftsmanship, and quiet brilliance that defined his career. It’s a privilege for Ushaw to host this first full retrospective.”

The Tom Hume: Retrospective will be on display at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens from Saturday 8 November 2025 until Sunday 18 January 2026, offering visitors the chance to explore the artist’s creative journey in the tranquil and reflective setting of Ushaw’s William Allen Gallery.

Open daily 10am – 4pm, exhibition access is included with a Day Pass or Ushaw Membership.