A new display of Harry Rutherford’s television sketches have gone on display at the Rutherford Gallery in Hyde.

Harry Rutherford began his flourishing television career with the BBC in 1936 as the corporation launched its high fidelity service.

His quick eye for details and ability to rapidly capture a scene succinctly brought him to the attention of the BBC producer Cecil Madden who offered Rutherford his first job sketching the live acts on Madden’s variety show ‘Cabaret Cartoons’.

The display brings together Rutherford’s sketches from ‘Cabaret Cartoons’. Also included are his illustrations of Samuel Laycock’s Lancashire poem ‘Bowton’s Yard’ performed by Violet Carson, who is perhaps better known as Ena Sharples, as well as sketches from his own programme ‘Sketchbook’, broadcast in the 1950s.

These sketches reveal not only Rutherford’s eye for detail but also his sense of comic timing clearly illustrated in his own commentary displayed alongside the sketches.

Rutherford easily fell into conversations with people he met whilst sketching different towns across the UK and the exhibited drawings reflect not only his artistic brilliance but also his sociable character.

Harry Rutherford’s television sketches are on display at the Rutherford Gallery in Hyde until April 2010.

Gallery Open: Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10am-12.30pm, 1-5pm, Wed: 1-7pm, Sat: 9am-12.30pm, 1-4pm, Closed Sunday and Monday.