News, September 2025.
John Moores Painting Prize Exhibition 2025.
I’ve been very fortunate again this year to have been selected for the John Moores Painting Prize Exhibition which is on at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, from 6th September until 1st March 2026. My painting, “High Street”, is a construction made-up of a series of actual buildings from the town of Heckmondwike, which is very close to where I live. For the exhibition I had to write a short statement about the work as part of the entry process:-
The High Street in my painting doesn’t exist as depicted, but each of the buildings in it does, all within a small Yorkshire town close to my home. Their ages range from around 50 – 120 years, and they have all seen better, brighter days.
We live in a land where property is king. Bricks and mortar are a much coveted, valuable investment, but for these neglected buildings normal rules don’t seem to apply. I feel a certain affinity with them. As we grow older, we humans seem to become less visible. We seem to count for less. Our voice can be considered insignificant.
Despite their neglect, the buildings still have strength and a beauty which comes through their age. The older they get, the more beautiful their patina, which speaks of their history. They still have value and potential which ought to be realised. They’re rather like us
Here are some images of the painting, including some from the exhibition opening on 4th September.
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High Street
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
Calder Open July 2025.
From next week I will be showing three paintings in this exhibition which has become an annual event. The theme of this year’s show is “Nature”, and I will be exhibiting the following paintings:-
Beware thief
Canada goose
Gey heron
The exhibition is being held at the wonderful Smith Art Gallery, which is adjacent to the library in Brighouse, W. Yorkshire. The gallery is just a short uphill walk from a large car park in the town centre, though it does share limited parking with the library right outside. Entry is free and the exhibition runs from 5th July. I’m unsure of the exact closing date but this, along with opening times, can be found on the website :
https//museums.calderdale.gov.uk
New work.
As I said, I have been very busy in the studio and have been working a new series of urban landscape paintings, many of which are focussed on the town of Dewsbury, close to where I live and work. As a child I was often taken to Dewsbury by my dad on a Saturday. It was a busy, bustling town with an excellent market which attracted crowds of shoppers from far and wide. Sadly, it’s a very different place these days, although good people are working on regeneration and improvement. Here are a few examples which I hope might whet your appetite. Of course, if anyone would like to see the paintings you are very welcome to visit the studio which is in Redbrick Mill, mid-way between Batley and Dewsbury. Please phone before travelling to make sure that I will be around – 07855 922616. For directions see http://www.redbrickmill.co.uk
A black cat in Bradford Street
A black cat and two crows in Union Street
Flair
Stop the wars