Exhibition captures our rural heritage

For the past 40 years Robin Wheeldon has captured the heart and soul of the county’s rural life and engineering heritage through his paintings.

Now the Lincolnshire’s artist’s work can be enjoyed at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life on Burton Road, Lincoln, until May 31.

Beneath Big Skies transports viewers to the rolling fields and beautiful vistas of the countryside with characterful studies of curly coated pigs and shire horses and paintings that show the evolution of the harvest, from horse drawn binder to the steam powered thresher and combine harvester.

Robin grew up next to a working farm in Heighington in the late 1940s and these formative experiences – seeing the horses go about their work, listening to the whirr of the threshing set, and carrying fresh milk from the farm - shaped a lifelong love of the Lincolnshire landscape that is reflected in his work.

The outbreak of the First World War saw one of Lincoln’s industrial pioneers, William Foster and Company, expand its operations from producing the agricultural machinery depicted in Robin's paintings to the world’s first fighting tank.

Robin is a member of the Friends of the Lincoln Tank group based at the museum  and his paintings are displayed alongside his designs for the Lincoln Tank Memorial, which greets motorists as they drive past University roundabout on Tritton Road.

Among the museum’s 250,000-strong collection is a lovingly restored Foster & Co threshing drum, built in 1878, and an authentic Mark IV World War One tank, affectionately known as Daphne (below).

Steve Dunk, visitor experience manager at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to showcase such an impressive collection of Robin’s work to our visitors.

“Robin’s paintings are so evocative: he captures the Lincolnshire landscape and the communities who work it so poignantly. These stories of land, labour, and legacy complement the incredible artefacts we have on display perfectly.

“I hope everyone enjoys this exhibition by a wonderfully talented Lincolnshire artist.”

Plan your visit now at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/museumoflincolnshirelife or follow the museum on Facebook.