Viva Talbot - Steel Making is a remarkable exhibition that looks at the industrial processes of steel production through the uniquely artistic lens of Viva Talbot.
Opening at Land of Iron on Monday 7 July 2025, it features a series of striking wood engravings that follow the steelmaking process from beginning to end. Arranged as a visual timeline, the works make the complex journey of steel production accessible without the need for lengthy or technical explanation.
The artist, Viva Talbot, was not formally trained. She was a gifted amateur who had rare access to the world of iron and steel through her father, Benjamin Talbot, a senior figure at Cargo Fleet Ironworks and South Durham Steel Company. Created in the 1930s, her engravings offer an extraordinary visual record of industrial Britain, with the first public mention of the album appearing in 1938. No other industrial process has been captured in this way, or through this medium.
Curated by Dr Joan Heggie, Viva Talbot - Steel Making brings together original prints, lithographs and woodblocks to showcase the technical skill, artistic vision and historical significance of Viva Talbot’s work. The exhibition reveals both the stark reality and striking beauty of the iron and steel industries, as seen through the eyes of a little-known yet exceptionally talented artist.
Viva Talbot - Steel Making opens at Land of Iron on Monday 7 July 2025 and runs until Wednesday 17 September 2025. Entrance is included with normal Land of Iron admission fee or annual pass.