Stiff Little Fingers? Now that's a name to conjure with, but check out their version of Bob and Rita Marley's Johnny Was. Played it before and reminded me of why I first loved punk all those years ago. Anyhow, just to remind y'all that I'm at Urmston market this Saturday and Knutsford Market on Sunday, where I'll have my newbies of Monton, Manc-hattan and Stockport Alphabet. See you there, hopefully.
Statement Artworks posters of the north west at Bistro West and DWF
When I was editing the arts or sports pages of newspapers and magazines, I thought working life couldn't get more interesting, but becoming a full-time artist seems to be trumping that.
Sunday saw me back at Knutsford market following the festive break. It's always a joy to be at - especially when the sun shines - and I had a great day, which included selling some of my work to one of my heroes, presenter and DJ Mark Radcliffe.
Then on Monday I set up a small exhibition of my posters at the fabulous Bistro West 156 restaurant on Burton Road. There is a mixture of A2 and A4 framed posters for sale, including, of course, the 'media whore' Didsbury picture, and my latest poster, Urmston, which has already sold well at markets and received lots of internet orders.
Bistro West 156 is a great little place and is right at the epicentre of the hip Burton Road district. Hopefully the diners won't choke on some of my 'acerbic' observations of north west towns and villages.
On Tuesday I staged my first art sale - at leading Manchester law firm DWF. I was invited to do it by one of the firm's founders. Jim Davies OBE, who bought my Liverpool poster at the Christmas Makers Market in Spinningfields.
After a slow start - the lawyers seemed bemused that art, rather than the usual books, were being sold adjacent to the company's restaurant - the trade picked up and at the end I did as well as I do at a reasonably good market.
Now that I am no longer a corporate events virgin, I will be looking to do a lot more in the future.
The Statement Artworks stand at Manchester law firm DWF
Urmston, Flixton, Davyhulme poster by Eric Jackson
OK, it's not the Bermuda Triangle, but it still has its own mythology and mysteries. Bordered by the Ship Canal and the Mersey, Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme are virtually unknown to people from outside the area - the proverbial end of the line. But when outsiders do stray into that triangular patch, they are often pleasantly surprised by the leafy streets, fine houses and semi-rural oases, and the Urmston Bookshop is an absolute gem. Just one elephant in the room, which people try to ignore but can't - the sewage works. You can buy this poster through statementartworks.com or you can buy it at Knutsford and Altrincham markets this weekend (Feb 6-7).
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