Thirty years ago Tyneside artist Bob Olley faced one of the oddest challenges of his creative career.
Bob, a former miner at Whitburn Colliery who is well known for his pit paintings, had to choose 14 famous North East faces for a mural.
Now the artwork at the Metro’s Monument station in Newcastle is celebrating its 30th anniversary as one of the region’s most viewed images.
The chosen few from 1996 are depicted looking out of the window of a Metro train carriage.
The Famous Faces mural was commissioned by Metro operator Nexus through its Art on Transport Programme.
The celebrities range across the worlds of sport, entertainment, broadcasting, literature, music, acting and the church – with Dame Catherine Cookson flying the flag solo for North East women.
Famous Faces has been seen by millions of Metro passengers over the last three decades.
Bob’s mural was created while he was working as artist in residence at the Customs House Gallery in his home town of South Shields.
The director general of Nexus in the mid-1990s, Mike Parker, liked the piece so much that he had it displayed next to the staircase at Monument – the busiest station on the Metro network.
Bob said: “I remember that I needed someone to open my exhibition at the Customs House and I asked Mike Parker if he would help me out.
“I knew Mike quite well and thought if he’s opening the exhibition at the Customs House for me then I’d do a painting for Nexus in return. I decided this idea of a railway carriage called Famous Faces, which would be a Metro carriage with all these local celebrities on board.
“When the exhibition was over with I was pleased to learn that the mural was going on permanent display at Monument Metro station – and it’s still there to this day. I would love to know how many people have seen it. It’s got to be in the millions.
“My family use Monument Metro station quite a lot and they always say that there’s always somebody looking at the mural and trying to identify who all the people are in the carriage. It’s nice to have something there that is your legacy.”
Lynne Dickinson, station delivery manager at Nexus, said: “Famous Faces is one of the most popular works on the Metro system, and has been for the last three decades. It is seen by thousands of people each and every day.”
The Famous Faces mural roll call:
Robson Green, actor, singer-songwriter and television presenter. From Hexham. Now aged 61.
Brian Johnson, singer and songwriter. Lead singer in rock band AC/DC, taking over the role in 1980 after the death of Bon Scott. From Gateshead, aged 78.
Sir Brendan Foster, former long-distance runner, athletics commentator and road race organiser. He founded the Great North Run. From Hebburn, aged 78.
Rowan Atkinson, comedian, actor and writer. Most noted for playing Mr Bean, Blackadder and Johnny English. From Consett, aged 71.
Sir John Hall, property developer, former chairman of Newcastle United. From Ashington, aged 93.
Peter Beardsley, top footballer who played for Newcastle United and England. From Hexham, aged 65.
Dame Catherine Cookson, author who sold 100 million novels worldwide. From South Shields. Died in 1998, aged 91.
Tim Healy, actor noted for his role as Dennis Patterson in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. From Benwell in Newcastle, aged 74.
Jack Charlton, footballer with Leeds and 1966 England World Cup winner, followed by a career in management, including Newcastle United and the Republic of Ireland. From Ashington. Died in 2020, aged 85.
Paul Gascoigne (Gazza), footballer who played for Newcastle United and England as well as spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton. From Dunston in Gateshead. Aged 59.
Jimmy Nail, singer-songwriter, actor, film producer and television writer. He played the role of Leonard “Oz” Osborne in the television show Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. From Benton in Newcastle. Aged 72.
Cardinal Basil Hume, Catholic prelate from Newcastle who served as Archbishop of Westminster. Statue outside St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle. Died in 1999, aged 76.
Sting, musician, songwriter and actor. Lead vocalist, principal songwriter and bassist for the rock band the Police before a successful solo career. From Wallsend in North Tyneside. Aged 74.
Mike Neville, broadcaster, best known as a presenter on North East TV news across a 43-year career with the BBC and ITV Tyne Tees. From Willington Quay in North Tyneside. Died in 2017, aged 80.
