Our Shields, Our Stories: Portrait & Heritage Day at the Linskill Centre
Saturday 11th October 2025 | 10am – 4pm
As part of the North Shields 800 celebrations, the Linskill Centre is proud to host a Portrait & Heritage Day, a free, family-friendly event celebrating the people, stories, and creativity that shape North Shields today.
Running from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 11th October, the day will bring together portrait art, live workshops, children’s activities, and interactive heritage displays under the theme “Our Shields, Our Stories.”
Highlights include:
● Portrait Exhibition, Portraits of Linskill staff, volunteers, and participants created by students of local artist Anita Brain Tyrell.
● Live Sketching Workshops, Open sessions where visitors can try their hand at sketching alongside practicing artists.
● Heritage “Postcard Talks”, Bite-sized talks from historian Kieran-Ann on key figures in North Shields’ history.
● Postcard Memories Station & Video Booth, Opportunities for visitors to share their own memories and experiences of the town.
● Children’s Art Zone, Creative activities imagining the future of North Shields through young eyes.
● Interactive History Displays, Photographs, memorabilia, and a community “string timeline” charting Linskill’s journey from 1932 to the present day.
Alongside the activities, there will be light refreshments, fundraising initiatives, and opportunities to learn more about the Linskill Centre’s charitable work supporting the local community.
This event is about celebrating North Shields through its people, their faces, voices, and stories,” said a spokesperson for the Linskill Centre. “We want everyone to feel part of this history, whether they’re picking up a pencil in a sketch workshop, sharing a memory on a postcard, or simply enjoying the stories of our town.
The day promises to be an inclusive celebration of creativity and heritage, welcoming residents of all ages to connect, participate, and share in the stories that make North Shields unique.
Event Details
● Event: Portrait & Heritage Day – Part of North Shields 800
● Date: Saturday 11th October 2025
● Time: 10am - 4pm
● Venue: Linskill Centre, Linskill Terrace, North Shields, NE30 2AY
● Entry: Free and open to all (donations welcome)