Swinburne Tempest, known by his nickname “Swin”, hailed from a mining family, but started work as a window dresser at 15 and progressed to retail packaging, exhibition and design.
Having worked mainly in retail, he always had a pen or pencil in his hand, helping him earn a living.
Self-taught, he began painting after retiring, drawing inspiration from mining artists, especially Norman Cornish, and the memories of his family, having had an early upbringing in Fencehouses and Houghton Le Spring.
Swin uses a vast range of mediums, including oils, pastel, watercolors and charcoal.
Currently living in Houghton le Spring, Swin is often found sketching and painting along the North East and Yorkshire coast.
