I'm a Manchester Artist - Manchester Open Exhibition 2020

From Saturday 18 January to Sunday 29 March 2020, two of my illustrations will be on display at the inaugural Manchester Open Exhibition 2020.

It all began last summer when I spotted Van Gogh at the Rochdale tram station. No, it wasn’t his ghostly apparition taking in the sights of Rochdale Riverside but an advert for the 2020 Manchester Open to be held at HOME.

“Submit Your Artwork” the poster said. I returned home and began looking through my sketchbook to choose the piece I’d like to submit. In the end I submitted two.

Fast forward three months to the end of November and I received an email notifying me that both my submissions had been accepted. I couldn’t believe it! There were 500 places available in the exhibition, yet over 2000 entries! I was so excited.

My entries

the beholder series / 01

Visitors to an art gallery may be sharing the same space, but are they sharing the same experience? This illustration is part of a series of seven drawings that observes the moment of connection between art and the viewer.
This piece actually has a connection to the art I had on display in Touchstones the previous year. The Beholder Series was inspired by the ‘What If We Tried’ exhibition that was running in the gallery next to ‘Postcard From Rochdale’.

I also think it’s quite cool that my drawing of people looking at art is going to be on display for people to look at. That’s people looking at art of people looking at art.

just being social

A very familiar sight. Meeting in person, but interacting with other friends further afield. Perhaps sitting in each other’s company is all it takes to keep the social gauge happy these days. It’s a very thought-provoking topic and this illustration aims to trigger such conversations. They don’t just ring anymore. Phones have become an extension of our being and I find that absolutely fascinating.