Anniversary exhibition celebrates museum founder

This article was first published by BBC News.

An exhibition celebrating the 200th birthday of a “visionary” woman will open at a County Durham Museum.

Josephine Bowes, daughter of a humble clockmaker, defied social norms to become a pioneering artist, collector and patron of the arts.

Along with her husband she set up the Bowes Museum, near Barnard Castle, now famous for its collection of art and furniture.

Opening in February, “Trailblazers and Trendsetters” features artworks spanning 300 years, shaping trends in western culture today.