West Vale and Greetland (2024)

Original media: Inks, gouache, acrylics, watercolour, coloured pencil, gold leaf and gold thread.

Painted for 'Engineers & Chocolatiers' – a solo exhibition to celebrate Calderdale at Bankfield Museum, 2024.

I’ve put these two together because I’m never quite sure where West Vale Ends and Greetland begins. I first went there in 2009 when I was doing a project with the children at Greetland School. The first thing I did was go to the wrong school – West Vale Academy, and they sent me up the hill to Greetland.

I love the contrast as you drive into West Vale, with the array of old industrial mill buildings on one side and the 17th century Clay House on the other. The West Vale Academy, St John’s Church and Victoria Mills add to the collection of tall towers that distinguish West Vale. Up through the railway arches to the leafy streets of houses of Greetland and the right school! And St Thomas’s Church with the green hills behind.

Available as a signed limited edition print, hand-finished with gold leaf and gold thread. All prints are mounted and can be posted, unless purchased framed.