Critchlow's deep connection to Ashington, stemming from his family's mining background, granted him unparalleled access to the lives of its people. His photographs from this period not only document the physical aspects of the town but also delve into the social fabric that held the community together. By focusing on everyday moments, such as gatherings at local social clubs, street scenes, and the interiors of miners' homes, Critchlow captured the spirit of a community on the brink of significant change.

Funding for this project came from a 1979 grant from Northern Arts (Arts Council of England) to produce documentary photography work in the area. In 1980 he was commissioned by Side to expand his exploration of the town, colliery, and its people.

Mik Critchlow (1955–2023) was a British social documentary photographer whose work centred on the mining town of Ashington in Northumberland, where he was born and lived for much of his life. Working with deep local knowledge and long-term commitment, Critchlow documented the everyday lives of the community, producing an intimate and unsentimental body of work shaped by trust, familiarity and lived experience.

Critchlow’s images are rooted in solidarity, offering a grounded view of working-class life in transition. In 1987 Critchlow wrote, "During the past few years I have documented the area in which I was born, educated and now live. I see my work in the context of a long-term plan – working within a community during a period of rapid social and environmental change."