Spring Photowalk

Early on Thursday evening after work, I caught a 192 bus for a photo walk of approximately 1.5 miles from the start of Higher Hillgate to The Blossoms pub on London Road (A6).

My first notable place to visit was behind the back of the Strawberry Studios to view a plaque.

The Stockport Heritage Trust plaque read:

“Home to the band 10cc and used by many to create memorable music, including Joy Division, Paul McCarthey, Martin Hannett, Neil Sedaka, The Stone Roses, The Smiths and The Syd Lawrence Orchestra.”

Stockport Heritage Trust plaque at Strawberry Recording Studios

Along Hopes Carr past the Stockport Air Disaster Memorial, I spotted a cute piece of tile art.

Tile art of a Strawberry

Opposite is a large mural located on Hopes Carr and some collage street graffiti art

More colourful street art, this time on Canal Street opposite Hopes Carr.

I walked towards Crowther Street just as the sun was starting to go down. The street has been depicted by many artists, most famously by L.S. Lowry.

Crowther Street off Higher Hillgate

A information board is displayed at the top of Crowther Street which mentions the former long gone Crowther Street Mill and Workers Housing.

Information board

Covent Garden Cafe is on the other side of Crowther Street making my way back to Higher Hillgate.

The cafe was recently featured in a TV series called ‘Small Prophets’.

In the tv series you can just make out the abandoned metal structure in the background.

If you look carefully, you will see a fainted mural behind the structure.

Site of Tabernacle Club, plaque.

Plaque remembers ‘The Fab Tab’ music venue where the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Small Faces performed.

Located on Black Lion Passage.

Walking towards London Road, on the left is Oldknow’s House, Hatters Court. Home to cotton mill industrialist Samuel Oldknow.

The blue plaque reads:

“Built around 1740.

Samuel Oldknow, pioneer Stockport cotton industrialist lived in this house 1784-94.

Also the home of William Radcliffe who in 1802 invented the ‘dandyloom’”

Other buildings of interests are;

The Salvation Army building.

Royal Oak Brewery sign.

Street art on Virginia Mills building, Higher Hillgate.

Street art

After my short photo walk, I made my way crossing London Road towards The Blossoms, which is a Robinsons brewery public house to get some much needed refreshment.

Stained glass window, The Blossoms pub
Pool room, The Blossoms pub

The pub is cosy inside and has ornate stained glass windows. I sat in the Pool room and then was persuaded by the landlord to participate in a game of pool!

Cheers 🍻

Derby Print Open Exhibition

I managed to visited the Derby Print Open exhibition recently to view the amazing printmaking at various venues around the city of Derby on a warm and sunny afternoon.

While visiting the exhibition, I spotted one of my etching prints at the nearby Dubrek music recording studios next door to Green Door Printmaking Studios.

It was great seeing my own artwork in the exhibition and I also purchased a high quality exhibition catalogue which featured all the prints in the show. The exhibition has closed today and I will be returning to collect my prints in the coming weeks and also visit some of the museums in Derby town centre such as the Museum of Making.

Bye for now.

Review of 2023 in pictures

Here’s a gallery of prints and images from this year.

My main highlights from this year was having work accepted into The Real Public Art Show (Stockport Open), the first Bury Open exhibition and the 102nd Stockport Art Guild exhibition.

2024 marks 10 years since I started this printmaking project / blog, and in that time I have created a catalogue of printmaking which I am going to present in a future exhibition. The project is not over yet, as I will be producing some new artworks in the coming months. Watch this space 👀

By the way have a happy and relaxing Christmas and here’s to 2024 and more creativity. Cheers 🥳🎄☃️🎇🎁

102nd Stockport Art Guild exhibition 2023

I have three of my prints in this year’s exhibition which has its preview today at 2pm. The exhibition is on until 19th January 2024 at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery.

Strawberry Studios (Etching Aquatint)
192nd Stockport Art Guild exhibition 2023 in association with Stockport Town of Culture.