The Stories From Shields Collection is a series of artworks, postcards, and illustrations shaped by real stories from South Shields. It focuses on the everyday details that people recognise and connect with — the kind of moments that often go unnoticed but stay with you.
Instead of presenting a polished version of the place, the collection leans into what feels familiar. It draws on conversations, memories, and lived experience to create visuals that reflect the character of the town in a more honest and relatable way.
The work moves across illustration and print, with each piece capturing a different aspect of life in South Shields. Some are rooted in food and shared rituals, others in the coastline or the rhythm of daily routines. Together, they build a wider picture of the place through small, personal snapshots rather than big statements.
Developed in ongoing collaboration with Wild North, the collection continues to evolve through shared creative direction and production, particularly across the postcard series and illustrated outputs.
There’s a strong sense of nostalgia running through the collection, but it isn’t about looking back for the sake of it. It’s about recognising the things that still shape how people experience the place today — the habits, the spaces, and the shared references that create a sense of belonging.
At its core, the collection is about turning stories into something visual and tangible. Through artwork, postcards, and illustration, it captures a version of South Shields that people can see themselves in — something familiar, something remembered, and something worth holding onto.
Stories From Shields is a project that is part of the Destination Development Partnership (DDP) pilot, a government-funded initiative for the North East of England aimed at boosting the regional visitor economy.
The Stories From Shields Collection is a series of artworks, postcards, and illustrations shaped by real stories from South Shields. It focuses on the everyday details that people recognise and connect with — the kind of moments that often go unnoticed but stay with you.
Instead of presenting a polished version of the place, the collection leans into what feels familiar. It draws on conversations, memories, and lived experience to create visuals that reflect the character of the town in a more honest and relatable way.
The work moves across illustration and print, with each piece capturing a different aspect of life in South Shields. Some are rooted in food and shared rituals, others in the coastline or the rhythm of daily routines. Together, they build a wider picture of the place through small, personal snapshots rather than big statements.
Developed in ongoing collaboration with Wild North, the collection continues to evolve through shared creative direction and production, particularly across the postcard series and illustrated outputs.
There’s a strong sense of nostalgia running through the collection, but it isn’t about looking back for the sake of it. It’s about recognising the things that still shape how people experience the place today — the habits, the spaces, and the shared references that create a sense of belonging.
At its core, the collection is about turning stories into something visual and tangible. Through artwork, postcards, and illustration, it captures a version of South Shields that people can see themselves in — something familiar, something remembered, and something worth holding onto.
Stories From Shields is a project that is part of the Destination Development Partnership (DDP) pilot, a government-funded initiative for the North East of England aimed at boosting the regional visitor economy.
