Artists paint the town in Charity Art Fair challenge

Five established artists have come together to create five significant works of art, using Macclesfield as their inspiration. The pictures will be sold as part of Art Fair 2014, taking place at Macclesfield Old Town Hall from 26 September to 4 October, raising money for East Cheshire Hospice.

Inspired by Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’, the artists have chosen to look for adventure in the backstreets of Macclesfield, on a quest to find some hidden gems: each artist will use his or her unique style to put a new spin on the old town, washing everything down with lashings of turpentine!

Christiane Van Doorn, who is coordinating the ‘5 Go Mad in Macc’ project, says:

“We are delighted that five very fine artists have agreed to take part in this challenge. Macclesfield is rich in material and who knows what gems the artists will encounter, and how they will choose to interpret them. The artists each have different styles, so it will be fascinating to compare and contrast, and at the same time to celebrate the people and places of this wonderful old mill town – as well as raise money to support the invaluable work of East Cheshire Hospice.”

The artists taking part in the project are:

Anne Aspinall –an established artist living and working in Macclesfield, where she’s been a member of the Longden Gallery on Roe Street for over 25 years. Exhibits widely in England and Wales, with a reputation for richly coloured depictions of the Welsh landscape and harbours.

Steven Bewsher – Macclesfield-based painter, inspired by both the urban and rural landscape of the North West of England. Many of his paintings depict well-known Macclesfield landmarks such as Hovis Mill and Chestergate. He also paints London scenes and exhibits right across the UK.

Chris Cyprus – born in Lancashire, Chris Cyprus uses simple northern scenes of potting sheds, allotments and back-to-back terraces as his inspiration. In 2008, Chris and his paintings appeared on BBC television’s Gardener’s World, charming the audience with his colourful interpretation of their passion for all things green.

Dean Entwistle – living in Macclesfield, Dean Entwistle is an established artist whose work has been recognised by the Royal Watercolour Society. Many of his paintings depict the hills and dales of the Peak District and Derbyshire, as well as more recent cityscapes of Manchester.

Ralph McGaul – a rising star, Ralph McGaul works out of his studio in Macclesfield, creating striking paintings, woodcuts and etchings. His style is naïve and primitive, with a raw energy and expressive style.

For further information about Art Fair 2014, and to find out more about a special ‘Meet the Artist’ event, please visit www.theartofcaring.org.uk