The Friends of Saltwell Park are hosting a guided “Charlie Rogers Trail” walk through Saltwell Park in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear on 18 April 2026 to showcase the work of local artist Charlie Rogers. The event will take participants to the spots in the park where Rogers captured well-known Tyneside views during his career.
The walk is led by local author and gallery owner Brian Rankin and will begin at 11:00 am at the park gates near the Little Theatre. No advance booking is required, though a small fee applies; proceeds typically support the Friends’ work maintaining the park.
Rogers was a self-taught artist who spent decades painting familiar Tyneside locations, including Saltwell Park and the Shipley Art Gallery (Gateshead Council). Research by Brian Rankin and local groups indicates Rogers produced more than 150 works within Saltwell Park alone, often focusing on the local history and changing streetscapes of the region.
The walking tour is part of a wider project to celebrate Rogers’ legacy — the artist lived from 1930 to 2020 — by identifying the real-world locations behind his paintings and showing how the Victorian park has changed while continuing to inspire local art today.
