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Christopher Fiddes: Belfast Pictures in Northampton Christopher Fiddes: Belfast Pictures in Northampton
(about 4 hours later)
A Northampton artist's paintings of the Northern Ireland conflict are being displayed together for what is thought to be the first time in 30 years.A Northampton artist's paintings of the Northern Ireland conflict are being displayed together for what is thought to be the first time in 30 years.
Christopher Fiddes, 80, produced 10 works known as the Belfast Pictures in 1972.Christopher Fiddes, 80, produced 10 works known as the Belfast Pictures in 1972.
His images depict both Catholic and Protestant views of the Troubles.His images depict both Catholic and Protestant views of the Troubles.
One painting purchased by the Imperial War Museum was destroyed in a fire. The rest are being shown at Northampton Museum until July. One painting purchased by the Imperial War Museum was destroyed in a fire. The rest are being shown at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery until July.
In the 1970s Mr Fiddes, who had previously served in the army, was head of art at a Northampton High School.In the 1970s Mr Fiddes, who had previously served in the army, was head of art at a Northampton High School.
He said: "I realised history was being made on my doorstep, and was only being recorded on paper and film, which are ephemeral media.He said: "I realised history was being made on my doorstep, and was only being recorded on paper and film, which are ephemeral media.
"There were no artists recording what was happening, and I felt I had to do that.""There were no artists recording what was happening, and I felt I had to do that."
Mr Fiddes said he took only sketchpads, and completed the paintings on his return.Mr Fiddes said he took only sketchpads, and completed the paintings on his return.
"You have to travel light in situations like that," he said."You have to travel light in situations like that," he said.
"I remember standing outside the Bluebell pub, which had recently been bombed, and one old boy told me to leave. He said 'You're not welcome here'."I remember standing outside the Bluebell pub, which had recently been bombed, and one old boy told me to leave. He said 'You're not welcome here'.
"That was in a Protestant area, where, as an Englishman I thought I would have been seen as a fairly neutral presence.""That was in a Protestant area, where, as an Englishman I thought I would have been seen as a fairly neutral presence."
Mr Fiddes recalled being arrested by the Army on one occasion, while sketching a checkpoint.Mr Fiddes recalled being arrested by the Army on one occasion, while sketching a checkpoint.
"I was looking at the rifle slot and became aware the gun was pointing at me."I was looking at the rifle slot and became aware the gun was pointing at me.
"I was frog-marched off and interrogated. It was a very unpleasant experience indeed," he said."I was frog-marched off and interrogated. It was a very unpleasant experience indeed," he said.
"They told me I would be lucky to get out of Belfast alive if I continued with my sketching.""They told me I would be lucky to get out of Belfast alive if I continued with my sketching."
Thirty years after completing the paintings, Mr Fiddes wrote about his experiences in Northern Ireland.Thirty years after completing the paintings, Mr Fiddes wrote about his experiences in Northern Ireland.
He described himself, and his journey to Belfast, as "completely naive and foolish".He described himself, and his journey to Belfast, as "completely naive and foolish".
"I had not realised that... Belfast had been divided up into Catholic and Protestant areas... and no one in their right minds ever moved from one sector to another," he said."I had not realised that... Belfast had been divided up into Catholic and Protestant areas... and no one in their right minds ever moved from one sector to another," he said.
"And I had not realised... the city of Belfast was rocked on average six times a day by car bombs.""And I had not realised... the city of Belfast was rocked on average six times a day by car bombs."
He added: "Most of the time I was terrified. I would... get back to [my lodgings] in the evening with sweat sticking my shirt to my back."He added: "Most of the time I was terrified. I would... get back to [my lodgings] in the evening with sweat sticking my shirt to my back."
However, he said: "The pictures do tell of the situation how it was, or how it seemed to me.However, he said: "The pictures do tell of the situation how it was, or how it seemed to me.
"If they do nothing other than show the horror of civil strife within a small and close-knit community, I still believe they were worth doing.""If they do nothing other than show the horror of civil strife within a small and close-knit community, I still believe they were worth doing."
It is believed the Belfast Paintings, which were gifted to Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in 1977, were last shown together at a private viewing in the 1980s.It is believed the Belfast Paintings, which were gifted to Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in 1977, were last shown together at a private viewing in the 1980s.
Since then they have been held as part of the museum's reserve collection.Since then they have been held as part of the museum's reserve collection.
The exhibition is timed to coincide with a month of events celebrating the completion of the BBC's Your Paintings website, which includes Fiddes' works together with more than 210,000 other paintings from museums and collections in the UK.The exhibition is timed to coincide with a month of events celebrating the completion of the BBC's Your Paintings website, which includes Fiddes' works together with more than 210,000 other paintings from museums and collections in the UK.