A blog about Stockport landmarks by artist/printmaker Neil Robinson which follows a printmaking project depicting the diverse architectural styles of my hometown both new and old.
As the clocks go forward and spring is finally here, I have decided to take part in some local art events to keep me busy.
I recently applied by submitting two of my prints to the ‘Cotton-On-MCR’ open call. This is an open exhibition at the Saul Hay gallery in Castlefield, Manchester running between April and May. Hopefully I will be successful, fingers crossed.
Yesterday, I decided to take part in the Stockport’s Giant Leap Ahead project to submit designs for frog statues on various themes such as ‘Frog the builder’ or ‘Music frog’.
On a different note, I have been working this month on preparing images to use for future etchings which I hope to complete this year.
I have also recently, creating various sketches of the Arden Arms pub which I hope to use as inspiration for my next print. Here are a few images.
The sun was out, so I decided it was a good opportunity to go on a photo walk around parts of Stockport this afternoon. From the images I took with my digital SLR camera, I have selected the following to include in this month’s blog post. I had a plan of where I wanted to go and figured out a route which would take me past each building so I was in easy walking distance of each location.
My list building to visit included Strawberry Studios, founded in 1968 by Peter Tattersall and Eric Stewart, where the likes of musicians such as pop group 10cc, Paul McCartney and Neil Sedaka recorded their hits.
Strawberry Studios Stockport on Waterloo Road.
There’s a blue plaque on the front of the red bricked/grey painted building which mentions artists that visited the studios back in its heyday.
Strawberry Studios Stockport blue plaque
I decided to climb a rough patch of ground opposite the building in order to get a good vantage point so I could take a face-on photograph. Trying not to squash the bluebells and daffodils in the process, I managed to take a small selection of photos.
My next subject was Stopford House which is in a southerly direction from the former studios towards London road and just off Edward street down Piccadilly.
Stopford House
Stopford House which is the local council civil building for the borough of Stockport, is an imposing mid-1970s building made of concrete patterned reinforced slabs and uniformed windows. It looks like something out of a spy film set in Eastern Europe.
Back 2006, the hit BBC TV crime drama series ‘Life on Mars’ was filmed in the courtyard to act as exteriors for a police station in the programme. The drama follows Sam Tyler who is involved in a car accident and ends up in 1973. A sort of time travelling cop drama with humour mixed in.
Stopford House
The courtyard itself looks a bit neglected and covers a large area stretching up to the town hall.
My last building to photograph was Stockport Masonic Guildhall on the main London Road (A6) opposite Stockport College. Built in the late 1860s, this Victorian red bricked building has some lovely exterior features such as the stone carved window frames and crest of arms. The hall is now a conference centre.
Stockport Masonic Guildhall
From the images I took today, I hope to create prints in the coming months, which will hopefully capture the look and character of the buildings.
I recently received a link to a virtual tour of the Impressions: a response to Towneley exhibition which is currently closed due to the UK national lockdown. Two of my prints, one depicting one of my Stockport related etching prints is currently in the show.
2020 has been a “challenging one”, which is a phase I’ve heard many times this year not surprisingly. My year in general has had its fair share of ups and downs like most folk.
The printmaking project has certainly been affected by this year’s pandemic but I have made the most of the situation by being as productive as possible with home printing and attending a few social distanced workshops. I took part in the first ever Manchester Open which ended early, the Macclesfield (Virtual) Open which was a first for me and the Towneley Hall ‘Impressions’ exhibition which will run until mid-February 2021. Hopefully more people will be able to view the Towneley exhibition before it ends if lockdown restrictions are relaxed in time.
In the Autumn, I entered a screen-print edition for the annual Hotbed press Twenty/Twenty International print exchange.
I will definitely be doing more screen printing next year and experimenting with other printing techniques like lithography on kitchen foil.
Currently, I am in the process of designing a brand-new personal website which will be linked to my blog.
I will be adding new features to my website and displaying artwork previously not seen before. The new site will be launched early in the new year. Really looking forward to getting my new website online.
At the beginning of the year, I started work on a new etching depicting the river Mersey just before lockdown kicked in. I hope to continue work on this printing plate in the new year all being well.
In November, I launched a brand-new Instagram account for the printmaking project which will be good for promoting my project and blog.
I am looking forward to getting back to studio workshops and completing my printmaking project by the end of next year.
I am delighted to have a selection of my prints in the current exhibition- “Impressions: a printmaking response to Towneley” at Towneley Hall in Burnley, Lancashire. Exhibition is on from 19th September 2020 until 19th January 2021. Please book before you visit, link below.
In the months of July and August, I have completed a 7 colour reduction lino-cut print depicting the Mailbox Stockport apartment block which is a former post office building that had been abandoned for years. The building is located in the centre of Stockport just off the A6 main road not far from the railway station. The new building has real foliage and bright green tiled walls on it’s exterior.
I used oil based inks from Hawthorn Printmakers this time apart from the green which is a mix of water-based Pea green and oil based Titanium white. The effect of mixing a water based ink with oil based printing ink is very interesting in that it creates a unusual pattern when the print dries.
I created a total of 10 prints from the plate which I cut down until only a few pieces of linoleum remained. The red colour used in the print was added with watercolour paint.
Stockport In Print 
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