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Artist stirs emotions

22/ 1/2003

AN ACCLAIMED artist is returning to his roots to put on his first major solo exhibition.

Whether it's football, landscapes or simply a bit of nostalgia, Brian Hill's inspirations have now been captured on canvas with his new exhibition 'Memories and Emotions'.

"A lot of artists have intellectual theories about their work, however I let my work speak for itself," he said.

He added that each painting selected for the exhibition means something important to him but he hopes they will be equally as inspiring for members of the public.

"Most people will never know why I painted a particular subject, it is personal and, even if I told them it wouldn't mean a thing because they did not experience it. They can only appreciate my paintings from their perspective but that's exactly what I want to happen - to stir and evoke memories and emotions of their own."

Forty-one-year-old Brian, who originally comes from Dukinfield, added that he feels most at home using water-based mediums such as watercolours, gouache and acrylics to create his works, which depict both urban and rural landscapes. They include tributes to the Old Trafford and Maine Road football stadiums.

He said that he had always dreamed of turning professional but after studying art at Tameside College as a youngster his aspirations had to go on one side in order to support his family.

He worked as a commercial artist and a sales executive before becoming a full-time professional artist just over three years ago.

Since then Brian, who now lives in Hadfield, has already been awarded the Mail on Sunday prize at the British Watercolour Society Show in 1999 and the Kings Hall Cup from the British Society of Painters in 2000.

You can catch Brian's work at the Astley Cheetham Gallery in Trinity Street, Stalybridge until February 12. For a sneak preview visit Brian's website by clicking the link below.

Meanwhile, old photos of a disastrous Mossley tram crash and when Hyde Swimming Baths was turned into a huge restaurant can now be viewed across the globe - with Tameside grannies becoming world famous!

Researchers from all over the world who have used the online Tameside Image Archive collection, have emailed Stalybridge Library, who launched the site, to say they have found their ancestors or even themselves represented there.

The collection includes 11,000 historical photographs of local people, places and events which can be ordered online. Views of the nine towns, industrial scenes, sports, amateur dramatics, pubs, politics, schools, Whit Walks and civic events have been scanned in so far.

Highlights include the filming of 'Yanks' in Stalybridge in 1978 and LS Lowry receiving the freedom of Longdendale.

You can visit the site by clicking the history link below.