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Shaking off its industrial past, the landscape of Wearside may have changed, but its inspiring qualities remain.

LS Lowry was a frequent visitor to the area and many of his paintings of seascapes and shipbuilding show Wearside scenes. Sunderland became a second home for the artist, who stayed at the Seaburn Hotel and was creatively stimulated by his surroundings there.

TM Hemy and Clarkson Stanfield are amongst other artists who have created paintings depicting the industrial history of the River Wear.

LS Lowry's Industrial Landscape

Sunderland Museum has a large collection of Lowry's work along with a mixture of established and up-and-coming artists. The Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art provides another showcase of art in Sunderland and the National Glass Centre exhibits a range of glass sculptures.

Durham contains over 630 listed buildings and is known for its striking architecture. The Castle and Cathedral are listed as World Heritage sites, with the whole centre of the city designated a conservation area.

Arts and Literature

Lewis Carroll spent time in the region. Works like Jabberwocky and The Walrus and the Carpenter are widely reported to have been written at Whitburn. A statue stands outside the library there. Other parts of the area, such as Hylton Castle and Backhouse Park are believed to have provided inspiration for parts of Alice in Wonderland.

'Hounds of Love' reached No.8 in 2005

Sunderland-born Terry Deary's Horrible History books have helped a generation of children to become interested in the subject. Thriller writer Sheila Quigley also hails from Sunderland, whilst fantasy novelist Mary Stewart is from Durham.

Musically, the areas most famous acts include The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart and Roxy Music's Brian Ferry. Young Wearside indie bands The Futureheads and Field Music lead the way for the new generation of Wearside musicians.

Made in England

Made in England is a joint partnership between ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ English Regions and Arts Council England to bring audiences and artists together in unique collaborations to provide exciting new cultural experiences.

It is a project dedicated to exploring how England – the place and the people - is expressed through creative and artistic forms.

Think about the Lake District - dramatic and elegant, the lush greens and icy blues depicting an unspoilt England. William Wordsworth was so inspired by the landscape he wrote poems, sonnets and ballads dedicated to it.

Non-traditional art is just as important to recognise - graffiti on the streets, estates built in the Sixties, and even regional accents. Does this architecture, history and culture inspire you to think of all things English?

If you're bursting with enthusiasm at the thought of creating something - why don't you see how you can get involved? Visit the main Made in England site to find out how you can get your creative juices flowing.