Local landscapes on display in Huddersfield
An exhibition celebrating the work of Peter Brook, one of Yorkshire’s most recognised landscape painters, will open in Huddersfield next month, bringing a collection of original paintings and prints that draw directly on the Pennine scenery around the town.
Peter Brook RBA – The Pennine Landscape Painter runs at AC Gallery, 11 Byram Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1DA, from Saturday 5 September to Saturday 3 October. The show will be open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, and admission is free.
Art rooted in place
Brook, born in Scholes near Holmfirth in 1927, forged a reputation for depictions of the Pennines — its hills, stone-built villages and ever-changing weather — throughout a long career that took him beyond the region while always keeping Yorkshire as a central reference point.
After studying at Barnsley Grammar School and Goldsmiths College in London, Brook returned to Yorkshire following National Service and combined a career in art education with his painting practice. His first solo show at Wakefield City Art Gallery in 1960 attracted positive national attention and, in 1962, he was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists. During the 1960s and 1970s he exhibited in London with the established dealer Agnews and later saw his work shown internationally.
Despite success outside the county, Brook’s work remained anchored in the Pennines. The AC Gallery show will present a mixture of original works, rare signed prints and estate-approved editions, offering both long-time admirers and new audiences the chance to see the landscape he painted “through the eyes of an artist who knew it intimately.”
“Peter Brook’s work is inseparable from the Pennine landscape. This exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to see that landscape through the eyes of an artist who knew it intimately.”
The comment comes from Mike Baggs of AC Gallery, which has acted as the main dealer and exclusive publisher for Brook’s work since 1999. The gallery’s long association with Brook’s estate has allowed it to assemble material showcasing different aspects of his approach to tone, colour and composition when capturing the moods of the Pennines.
Connection to the local community
Brook’s links to the Huddersfield area extended beyond paint and paper. He took up fell running later in life and was a member of Holmfirth Harriers, underlining a personal attachment to the landscape that informed his artistic practice.
The exhibition provides a timely opportunity for Huddersfield residents to encounter work by an artist who made this place his subject over many decades. For those interested in local cultural history, it also offers insight into how a regional landscape fed into a wider artistic career.
- What: Peter Brook RBA – The Pennine Landscape Painter
- Where: AC Gallery, 11 Byram Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1DA
- When: 5 September–3 October; Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 10am–4pm
- Cost: Free admission
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Exhibition period | 5 Sep – 3 Oct |
| Opening days | Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat |
| Opening hours | 10:00 – 16:00 |
Local museums and galleries have increasingly leaned on shows such as this to attract residents and tourists alike. For Huddersfield, the Peter Brook exhibition reinforces the town’s continuing role as a place where Yorkshire’s cultural heritage and contemporary artistic life meet.
Visitors planning to attend should note the limited opening days and can contact AC Gallery for further details about particular works and print availability during the run.
