This painting portrays Shincliffe Bridge as it stands today, 200 years since its reconstruction in 1826. Viewed from the shaded bank on a cold spring day, the scene is defined by contrast: cool shadow in the foreground gives way to bright sunlight beyond, where light pours beneath the twin arches and dances across the water in vivid, mirrored reflections.
As part of the exhibition 'Reflect' the work explores both the physical reflections on the river’s surface and a quieter, more contemplative reflection on time and place. The shifting light becomes a metaphor—suggesting memory, transition, and the enduring presence of history within the landscape.
The site itself is steeped in centuries of change. The current bridge, designed by County Surveyor Ignatius Bonomi, replaced earlier structures that once spanned this stretch of the River Wear. The first bridge, built around 1400 under Bishop Skirlaw, collapsed and was rebuilt multiple times before being replaced entirely in the 19th century. Each iteration marks a layer of human effort, necessity and resilience, embedded within the same crossing point.
Today, set within its rural surroundings with a footpath leading toward Durham, the bridge offers a quieter experience—yet traces of its long history remain. In the painting, framing branches reach inward from either side, subtly guiding the eye toward the illuminated opening. This gesture invites the viewer to move through the composition, from shadow into light, as though crossing not only physical space but the threshold between past and present.