Lowry painted the Old Chapel in Newcastle in 1965

The city is one of only two sites to host the exhibition which depicts Lowry's visions of Britain.

Visitors to Sunderland's museum and winter gardens will be able to see more than 100 paintings and drawings by the Lancashire artist.

Although Lowry is famous for his obsession with industrial scenes, exhibition organisers says the aims of the Wearside display are to dispel the popular misconception that he never ventured further than the mill towns of the North West.

Many of the paintings of show feature scenes from Lowry's second home - the North East.

Juliet Horsley, curator of Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, said: "This exhibition is about the places in Britain and Ireland that Lowry visited throughout his life, and what he chose to record there.

"From old buildings and churches to people, ships and the sea, this is a fascinating exhibition that explores another facet of the work of one of Britain's best known and most loved artists.

"In his later life Lowry's long association with the North East became even closer.

Lowry's River Wear at Sunderland, painted in 1961

"He often stayed at the Seaburn Hotel, and it was Sunderland and its views of the North Sea that were to become the inspiration for the haunting, empty seascapes he produced during this period.

"His love of the North East, its buildings, coast and shipping can be seen in many of the works featured in this exhibition."

A spokesman for Tyne and Wear Museums, added: "We are thrilled to be able to show this body of work from Lowry and bring them to the North East.

"Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is one of only two venues in the country to have this exhibition on show, which is another coup for the region."

Lowry's Travels can be seen until 12 October.