Akroydon (2020)
Original media: Painted in inks, gouache, acrylic, watercolour, gold leaf and gold thread.
Painted for the ‘Toffee Town’ exhibition at The Yorkshire Gallery in Halifax’s Piece Hall.
Akroydon is Halifax’s model village, commissioned by Edward Akroyd in the second half of the 19th Century; designed and built by George Gilbert Scott. Akroyd was a much loved Halifax business man and philanthropist. He set out to create an idealised settlement, in contrast to the appalling living conditions provided for many mill workers at the time. Neo gothic in style, Akroydon balanced green spaces, recreation and public spaces, and a lay-out of decent houses that encouraged the mixing of social classes.
After my Lost Houses exhibition in 2016, I was commissioned by Bankfield Museum to create a painting of the area for permanent display. I designed two. This one of Akroydon, and another that showed Bankfield (the former home of Edward Akroyd) and All Souls Church. Though they chose the latter, I was so taken with beautiful Akroydon that I painted it anyway!
Akroydon is Halifax’s model village, commissioned by Edward Akroyd in the second half of the 19th Century; designed and built by George Gilbert Scott. Akroyd was a much loved Halifax business man and philanthropist. He set out to create an idealised settlement, in contrast to the appalling living conditions provided for many mill workers at the time. Neo gothic in style, Akroydon balanced green spaces, recreation and public spaces, and a lay-out of decent houses that encouraged the mixing of social classes.
After my Lost Houses exhibition in 2016, I was commissioned by Bankfield Museum to create a painting of the area for permanent display. I designed two. This one of Akroydon, and another that showed Bankfield (the former home of Edward Akroyd) and All Souls Church. Though they chose the latter, I was so taken with beautiful Akroydon that I painted it anyway!
Available to buy as a mounted and signed limited edition print - unframed. Hand-finished with gold leaf and gold thread.
75cm x 59cm (including mount)
Limited print edition of 150
£290.00