Untitled drawing of coal miners by Vincent Evans, 1920

Born in south Wales in 1896, Evans worked as a coal miner from the age of 13. He started taking part-time art classes in 1911 before getting a place at Swansea School of Art. In 1920, the year he made this pastel and chalk drawing, Evans was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Colllege of Art.

The two miners shown here are placing an explosive charge into a pre-drilled hole in a rock face, possibly to drive a roadway. Once enough charges have been laid, they will be detonated from a safe distance.