The return of The Bedlington Terrier - famous painting to be exhibited after 50 years

If you have seen Lee Hall’s play The Pitmen Painters, you will be familiar with The Bedlington Terrier, one of the paintings that plays a prominent part in one funny and touching scene.

The picture of the little white dog – an example of the native Northumberland breed – is attributed to Jimmy Floyd in the play.

But it was actually the work of William Scott, another member of the so-called Ashington Group, those now famous amateur painters who gathered in a hut after work – often shifts at the pit – to paint pictures.

Scott was one of the older members of the Ashintgon Group and The Bedlington Terrier, done when he was about 70, is the only known example of his work.

You might imagine that such a well-known painting resides at Woodhorn Museum, near Ashington, home of the permanent collection chosen by the pitmen painters themselves to represent their best work.

But in fact The Bedlington Terrier has been in private hands since it was bought for £2 at the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, before the Second World War.