Mill town

This painting has been sold


Oil on hardboard 8" x 8"



Well, this is what Stalybridge was not so many years ago - a mill town - forty one cotton mills in its 19th/20th century heyday. There are not many mill chimneys left but the mill buildings sometimes are allowed to remain and are changed into apartments. Surrounding them you see the more recent developments of orangey brick housing, sometimes rendered and painted white. These old and new structures lie nestling in the valley of Stalybridge which is at the foothills of the Pennines. This is a typical Stalybridge view, about a 5 minute walk from my house. It's quite a nice change - and a challenge - to try a landscape or two. It's always something I have found quite difficult for some reason unknown to me.

Fina's

This painting has been sold


Oil on hardboard 10" x 8".

This is my hairdresser's shop. She's called Fina and originally comes from Sicily although she spent most of her life in the north of England. She's the only hairdresser I feel comfortable with. When she bought this shop she never got round to putting her name on the boards as you can see. Everybody knows it's Fina's so why bother.

The Co-op pharmacy

Oil on hardboard 10" x 8"

My mum used to say of so-called "lucky" acquaintances - "If he fell off the co-op roof he'd fall in the divvy", the divvy being the "dividend" or the small bonuses loyal co-op shoppers could earn. The divvy was paid out in the form of stamps which you stuck in a book and when it was full you could exchange it for cash. The exchanged books apparently were dumped in a huge crate, so you'd have a soft landing if you fell in it. Well, it's nothing to do with the painting but it's a story I suppose.

Sunday morning town

This painting has been sold


Oil on hardboard 9" x 9"

Railway bridge

This painting has been sold


Oil on hardboard 8" x 8"

This is just one of the many bridges in Stalybridge. They all have a different character. This one is very close to my house. In fact the houses you can see right at the top are a continuation of my road. I did a Winsor violet underpainting for this one. I think the colour is right for Stalybridge views!

After the rain

This painting has been sold

Oil on hardboard 12" x 9"

This is another total rework of a painting I did about 6 months ago. I kept the basic shapes but reworked the whole surface. I was quite amused to conclude that it now looks a bit like a Clarice Cliff teapot (that wasn't the intention) but maybe there are some Clarice Cliff collectors out there :)

The Blue Bridge

Oil on hardboard, size without frame 12" x 8.5". Beautifully framed in a wide, off white wooden frame. To purchase this painting please contact the Millyard Gallery Uppermill on 01457 870410

Small town blues

Oil on Daler Board

It's a while since I posted anything on my Stalybridge blog but I really enjoyed working on this painting and I hope this has push-started me to do some more.