Local history

Nottinghamshire's writers and artists, past and present, have depicted life in our county in both darkness and light.

Literature

In Alan Sillitoe's novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning set in the 1950's, the anti-hero Arthur Seaton works at the Raleigh Factory in Nottingham.

Both the book and the consequent film, depict Nottingham as a gritty, bleak, industrial city where working class men seek pleasure in hard drinking and casual sex.

Much of Nottinghamshire's industries have declined since then, including our mining industries and communities, depicted in DH Lawrence's Sons and Lovers.

Alan Sillitoe in 2005

The novel set in Bestwood, is celebrated for its genuine working class focus, a rarity at the time of publication in 1913. 

Urban bleakness and the working classes are evident in modern literature too.

The Killing Jar by local writer Nicola Monaghan is the story of a girl growing up on a drug-fuelled estate in Nottingham.

Whilst these writers have depicted the darker, and harder side, of life in Nottinghamshire, you could say its painters have tried to show Nottinghamshire's brighter side.

Painting

Nottingham painter Paul Waplington, who now lives in Portugal, did a series of paintings about Nottingham's lace industry in the 1970s.

There's a stunning picture of two draughtsmen working on a piece of lace, at the Angel Row Library.

It's a celebration of the industry, synonymous with Nottingham, making you feel nostalgic for a time when the lace industry was still in full swing.

Another painter who uses Nottingham as his focus is Nick Hedderley. Nick's landscape paintings celebrate urban scenes in the city. He says about his work:

"I love Nottingham's urban environment - it allows me to incorporate a lot of abstract elements in the work and also to show views and places in Nottingham that maybe aren't regarded as conventionally 'picturesque' or beautiful - but which I find stunning."

Film and TV

In 2004, for the first time, Billy Ivory was given the go ahead to write and set a TV drama in Nottingham.

'A Thing Called Love' on BBC One, featured famous landmarks like Sneinton Windmill and Old Market Square.

Billy also had the characters speaking 'Nottinghamese' and expressing their love of the city.

Shane Meadows' This Is England

The series did have its darker moments but on the whole it was light-hearted, humorous and represented the city, and its people, positively.

In film, Shane Meadows has been flying the flag for Nottingham. Much of his work has been filmed around the city.

His films include This is England, Twenty Four Seven, A Room for Romeo Brass, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands and Dead Mans Shoes.

Although there's no specific references to Nottingham in Shane's films, they all reflect the social realism of life in the city and the Midlands as a whole.

We're lucky in Nottinghamshire to have such a rich cultural heritage and there's plenty of evidence that this will continue into the future.

If Nottinghamshire inspires you, and is reflected in your own art, poetry and film, why not get in touch? Contact:

Made in England

Made in England is a joint partnership between BBC 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.

Suspension bridge by Nick Hedderley

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.

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.