Bassetlaw Museum is delighted to present a new exhibition of drawings and paintings created in response to its collection and the stories of the communities it serves.
The works are by Christy Burdock whose practice is rooted in Britain’s regional history and heritage. Living in Central London, within walking distance of the Thames, she is drawn not to the capital’s well-trodden landmarks but to the quieter, richer stories found beyond it - places with depth and texture that reward close attention. Bassetlaw, and its remarkable museum, offered exactly that.
The exhibition reflects a wide range of the museum’s themes: from the local cinemas and mining to royal charters and the story of the Mayflower. Autochrome photography, farming life and the energy industry, all find their way into the work. Unusually for the artist, several pieces include children — inspired by vivid accounts of growing up on a local farm, and by the museum’s toy and school collections.
Christy said: “My main aim is always to amplify stories and add value to the collection, but I also hope to transport the people I draw and paint to other parts of Britain — to spark curiosity about places and stories others might not yet have encountered, thus introducing new stories to new audiences.”
The artist’s process is one of deep immersion. Extended research forms, what she describes, as the scaffolding beneath her practice. She is particularly interested in the way ideas travel across time and geography. Access to local voices and memories, made possible through the museum’s community connections, gave the work an additional layer of intimacy and meaning.
The paintings and drawings are executed predominantly on cradled beechwood — a material chosen for its robustness and natural beauty — and reflect a constant, careful negotiation between composition, line and tone. The works are not illustrations of history but responses to it: an attempt to amplify stories and add lasting value to the collection.
The museum’s building itself became part of the creative conversation with its beautifully proportioned architecture, something the artist responded to throughout the project, and it lends the exhibition a graceful setting.
Kasia Wosiak, Collections officer at Bassetlaw Museum said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Christy. She brings such curiosity and sensitivity to her practice, and it’s been fascinating to see her interpretation of the stories we share with the public. Viewing our objects through her lens and watching how she engages with the items on display and the local histories behind them, has been truly inspiring. Christy’s artworks are displayed throughout the museum, positioned in close dialogue with the objects that informed them.
“We all connect with displays in different ways, and her work offers both familiar and unexpected perspectives. It’s a powerful reminder that museums are valuable community spaces where our shared stories continue to evolve.”
The exhibition is on display at Bassetlaw Museum, Retford, Nottinghamshire. Admission is free.
Image copyright Christy Burdock
Last Updated on Monday, March 30, 2026