About the Film

Working as a heritage project filmmaker on The Spanish Gallery was one of the most ambitious commissions of my career. The film documents the transformation of a neglected former bank and nightclub in Bishop Auckland into a world-class gallery housing Spanish Golden Age masterpieces — part of The Auckland Project’s wider regeneration of the town. Commissioned by Centro de Estudios Europa Hispánica (CEEH) for The Auckland Project, the film follows the project from early planning through to the gallery’s opening.

Architecture, Craft and Community

The project began with the remarkable connection between Auckland Castle and its celebrated series of paintings by Francisco de Zurbárán. This historical link inspired the vision for The Spanish Gallery — a place that would put these works into context while bringing masterpieces by El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo and others to the heart of County Durham.

As a heritage project filmmaker, I witnessed architects face the challenge of uniting the former Backhouse Bank and the adjoining Barrington School. What was once a wreck was reimagined through intricate design, careful restoration and an ambitious curatorial vision. I filmed skilled craftspeople creating ornate plasterwork, restoring the building’s Venetian-inspired façade, and construction teams reinforcing crumbling structures while integrating modern systems into historic walls. These are the sequences that make heritage project filmmaker work both demanding and deeply rewarding — there is only one chance to capture a building coming back to life.

Art, Technology and Collaboration

The documentary delves into the collaboration between local craftspeople, international institutions and curatorial teams. Conservators carefully assessed artworks loaned from institutions including the Hispanic Society of America in New York, the National Gallery and Dulwich Picture Gallery. Through 3D scanning and advanced elevated printing technology, innovative facsimiles allowed visitors to experience rare works while ensuring their preservation — a striking example of heritage meeting the future.

One of the most powerful sections of the film focuses on how the gallery design immerses visitors in 17th-century Spain. Rather than placing the art at a distance, the architecture, lighting and layout pull you into the world of the paintings. From the reconstructed El Greco tabernacle to a near life-size facsimile of Las Meninas, each element is designed to transport you, creating an experience that is both intimate and awe-inspiring. Lighting specialists meticulously adjusted angles to protect and illuminate every canvas. For a heritage project filmmaker, these are the details that define a commission.

What the Film Captures

Seeing this once-neglected building filled with masterpieces and the first visitors walking through its doors was a reminder of why heritage project filmmaker work matters. Heritage filmmaking is about more than documenting a building or a collection — it is about witnessing places come alive and their stories retold for a new generation. This film stands as proof that careful, patient documentary work can preserve the human dimension of even the most complex heritage project.

The Spanish Gallery is part of The Auckland Project’s wider cultural transformation of Bishop Auckland, alongside Auckland Castle, the Faith Museum, and the Mining Art Gallery.