exhibition catalogue written, designed and produced by painters Tubes magazine and Studio 5 Sweden. Printed in the UK ©2019 .
“Constructing the Mersey Gateway Bridge” an exhibition of painting and drawings by Shaun Smyth created from October 2015 to December 2018this exhibition is supported and sponsored by: Halton Borough Council, the Brindley theatre, painters TUBES magazine and Bell, Lamb & Joynson Solicitors.
photograph of Shaun Smyth in his studio by Lee Harrison Photography ©2017
“ Constructing the Mersey Gateway Bridge ” Introduction to the ExhibitionIt will come as no surprise to visitors of this exhibition that the Mersey Gateway Bridge is one of themost important infrastructure investments in the UK for many decades. The ambition to connect theMersey area with a 21st century road transport network to the Northern England is indeed worthy ofpraise. The bridge itself is equally a remarkable feat of engineering. Shaun Smyth had the great insightand pressing desire to record how this marvel of engineering would be put together and record it withhis singularly unique artistic eye.I came across Shaun’s paintings over two years ago when I first caught glimpse of a number ofexamples of artwork of the ‘Bridge’ paintings and drawings on social media. For me it was the drivebehind the artistic project that caught my imagination even more so than the bridge itself. I soon cameto understand and respect the sheer artistic dedication that Shaun was applying to the task of recordingfor posterity this astonishing construction from the very start of the building of it to the fully operationaland premiere opening day of the Mersey Gateway Bridge.When I first visited the artists studio to view the work, the extent of his dedicated attention to thecreation of truly unique art for the bridge project came quickly into focus. However, I also viewed workcreated previous to this huge undertaking of the Mersey Gateway Bridge. Shaun’s talent and attitudeto art in general creation was and is, truly impressive. His Art extends to education, and as a teacher,his authentic and enthusiastic approach to painting and drawing is transferred to his students on a dailybasis. Shaun’s justifiable pride of the students achievements and their advancement as young artists ispart and parcel of his life, which is typical of his belief in the importance of original Art creation in this21st century society.This exhibition of Art, which is admirably supported by the Brindley Theatre, Halton Borough Council,Bell, Lamb and Joynson Solicitors and painters TUBES magazine, demonstrates the attention the Artisthas given to the Bridge throughout the construction process from 2015 to 2018.In particular the skillfully created drawings, (which in my view, are works of Art in themselves), providethe viewer with a unique glimpse of what lays behind the seemingly simplistic sleek appearance ofthe now completed bridge. As the thousands of cars and heavy goods vehicles travel across the bridgecommuting or delivering goods and services to the whole of the North of England, it will be easy toforget the people that constructed it, and how they did it.These paintings and drawings stand as witness to the builders accomplishment for the generations tocome, enabling them to appreciate and celebrate the achievement of the builders and also the politicalwill to bring the Mersey Gateway Bridge to a reality, but more than that, these artworks should andindeed deserve to be valued beyond the actual Bridge itself, as a bank of authentic Art created by onegifted artist for posterity.And as a final comment, I believe these paintings deserve to be placed in a North West Art Museumbuilding for all to view as one magnificent example of Art making a pro-active stance in recordingsomething that will affect peoples lives far into the next century, just as many great works of Art fromprevious centuries have done and continue to inspire both the public and young artists of todayand of the future. Introduction written by Denis Taylor Artist and Editor painters Tubes magazine
Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors is delighted to be sponsoring ‘Constructing the Mersey Gateway Bridge’, an arts exhibition created by local artist Shaun Smyth. The exhibition being hosted at The Brindley, Runcorn, is a showcase of the workmanship and story behind the construction of the Mersey Gateway Bridge and highlights the significance of the project for the region. BLJ Solicitors has operated out of its Runcorn office for over 40 years and is a proud ambassador of the area, supporting the local community wherever itcan. Shaun is an example of the fantastic local talent working in the area and the firm is pleased to sponsor his latest project. The multi-million-pound transport scheme connecting Runcorn to Widnes contributes heavily to the local economy and has played a crucial role inmaking Runcorn more accessible to businesses in the wider region, helping to propel its status in the North West. Shaun’s project shines a spotlight on this significant construction project through art and creativity fuelled by his own experiences and personal affiliation with the bridge itself. BLJ Solicitors is incredibly excited to work with Shaun and looks forward to seeing what his future has in store. The team encourages the community to join us in congratulating him on the launch of this exhibition.
The reason for the bridge to be constructed in the first place was clearly outlined in theproject details from the very onset of the project in 2006, it read...”...a second road crossing over the Mersey has been a long held aspiration ofHalton Borough Council and its neighbouring local authorities. In 2006 the MerseyGateway Project, a major scheme to build a new six-lane toll bridge over the RiverMersey between the towns of Runcorn and Widnes, was agreed.The new bridge will relieve the congested and ageing Silver Jubilee Bridge.” Sketch: “Spike island view.” ©Shaun Smyth Shaun reacted to the construction and became transfixed by it, towards the end of the series of paintings he said that... “....in 2015 the first initial drawing studies were created looking across the shore of the Mersey Estuary, focusing on how the construction was transforming the surrounding landmass. I became fascinated in recording the continual changing of the light, and the tide and the speed in which the construction of the bridge was rapidly taking shape. The paintings and drawings were created in conjunction with that pace, one that was happening before my very eyes..”
You’d be mistaken to believe that the ‘bridge’ bank of work is all that Shaun’s art is concernedabout. His art encompasses ‘nature’ and the ‘environment’ with equal passion as the bridge hasdone these past years. He also teaches art and has great enthusiasm and pride for the workhis students create under his tutorship, inspiration that he himself was shown by his art mentorsand teachers, Alun Evans and Mike Knowles and the late John Charters.Here are two short extracts from the statements they made which accompanied an introductoryexhibition of ‘Crossings’ that was mounted at the Catalyst Museum during 2017 and later at theCrossley Gallery, Dean Clough, Halifax.“...Shaun is an artist of studied depth who pursues a topic with tenacity andvigour over months and years. His subjects are landscapes. These can be areas ofoutstanding beauty here or abroad but more often aspects of the built environmentwhere the subjects are much closer to home...Shaun has an affinity with, and respectfor, the work of Creffield, Auerbach andPeter Prendergast....” Alun Evans.“...I first came across Shaun Smyth in his early student days at art school inWidnes....Even then his eagerness to forge a career as an artist was apparent.Subsequently I was his tutor for a time during his undergraduate years and was againimpressed by his enthusiasm and sense of purpose...in this most recent work and theseries responding to the dramatic panoramic landscapes of the Mersey estuary, Shaunhas found the subject matter which best allows his vision to find expression. It is nocoincidence that this is the landscape with which he is most familiar and within whichhe has grown to maturity.” Mike Knowles, NDD, DFA(London), RCA. Emeritus Professor in Fine Art, Liverpool John Moores University.
©Shaun Smyth‘the artist explains the challenges of painting the bridge’“...the construction [of the bridge] was a continuous process as the building workerswere on 12 hour shift rotations, working throughout the night.The opportunity to create a series of nocturnal panoramas of the reflecting light onthe estuary and the Manchester Ship Canal was challenging for any artist to try andcapture both the evening light and the atmosphere. I relished the opportunity toexperiment with a darker tonal palette to express subtle changes in colour due to theunnatural man-made lighting reflecting in the water, sky and the Gantry Wall, onewhich separates the Manchester Ship Canal from the Mersey Estuary. Each paintingsoon became a key point in the development of the bridge as the structure was gettingcloser to completion and connected to both sides of the estuary....”©Shaun Smyth
In an interview with painters Tubes magazine editor (Denis Taylor) Shaun explained why theGateway Bridge project ignited not only an artistic inspiration for the sudject but also a deeplypersonal one... “...the River Mersey has played a significant role throughout my life; myproximity to it being a source of inspiration for my work. The decision to buy a propertycloser to where I was brought up in Runcorn came at a good time, due to my interestin the continuous redevelopment of the geographical landscape of Halton. In particularthe innovative construction and development of the Mersey Gateway Bridge.” ©Shaun Smyth “that an artist should paint what is seen every day.”“My personal connection with the Mersey Estuary is much deeper than simply living andworking close to the river. It is a part of my personal history, my father having workedon the Manchester Ship Canal that runs alongside this particular stretch of the Mersey.What is always in the back of my mind, is the excellent advice from the influential artistand my mentor, Mike Knowles... “that an artist should paint what is seen every day.”
©Shaun Smyth“...the Gateway project is a monumental piece of engineering and I was so excited torecord the development, one of the biggest bridge constructions of its kind in Europe,happening in my home town and I was overjoyed to be a part of it. I was captivatedby the beauty and elegance of the bridge design, the triangular geometric shape of thetower cable stays resembling the masts and sails of a ship... ...And the play of light [on them] I found to be an interesting and majorchallenge to paint, as they disappeared and reappeared in the ever changing sky,reflecting in the surface waters of the estuary. The movement in the natural elementssurrounding the man-made structure became another aspect that I wanted to explorefurther. Conveying the sheer power of the natural environment against the iconicstructure that was appearing before me, it became almost an obsession...”
On following pages are a few examples of the paintings and the drawings from“Constructing the Mersey Gate Bridge” series of work, it must also be noted that this exhibition only displays asmall section of all the work in this series due to the space limitations of the venue.above: “Paul the Steel Surgeon” ©Shaun Smyth
below: “Constructing the bridge in mist and rain” ©Shaun Smythabove: “Wigg Island” ©Shaun Smyth
above: “Saltwater Marshes” above: “under the Gateway Bridge”
©Shaun Smyth©Shaun Smyth
The visitor to this exhibition may well ask, what can the artistdo next that measures up to the scale and depth of the Mersey Gateway Bridge art project? Well, that question has already been answered. Shaun and another Artist Photographer, Lee Harrison, shall document and have special permission to witness the ‘de-construction’ of Fiddlers Ferry Power plant. Not unlike the Mersey Bridge, this will be a long artistic journey. Both artists have started the first phase which involves Shaun sketching and Lee’s creative photography.The Fiddlers Ferry Project promises to be as artistically original in content and with fantastic visual art as “Constructing the Mersey Gateway Bridge.” quite obviously is. photographs by: Lee Harrison Photography ©2018
above. Top: “under the Mersey Gateway Bridge and below two drawings from the Mersey Gateway Bridge project around 2017 left; “360 Ton” and on the right; “All clear.” painting and drawings ©2015 to 2018 - Shaun Smyth
artist acknowledgements “I would like to thank the following for their support in bringing this exhibition to fruition. Firstly, Haltonborough Council and the Brindley Theatre for showcasing the exhibition. A special thanks goes to Denis Taylor (Artist and Editor of Painters Tubes magazine) for his continued advice, encouragement and support of my work, creating a wider audience of this monumental project through painters Tubes Also a thank you to The Mill House Gallery, for their professionalism and quality framing of the work for this exhibition. Thanks to the members of the construction team of theMersey Gateway Bridge, Alan Billinge (Crane Supervisor)and Paul ʻThe Steel Surgeonʼ Large for their collaboration and insight into the construction process of the entiredevelopment. I found this invaluable and inspirational in creating the work on display. I would like to thank my family for their patience and much needed support, thanks to friends Daniel OʼTooleand Denis Mogg who kindly gave up their personal time to help create promotional materials for this exhibition. A final thanks goes to Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors (BJL) for their kind and generous financial sponsorshipof the work, this has been instrumental in presenting this exhibition to the general public.” Shaun Smyth.
photograph: still from the exhibition video ©Merseylink “Constructing the Mersey Gateway Bridge” exhibition of drawings and paintings by Shaun Smyth an on-line version of this catalogue including a video interview with the artist is available to view by going to www.painterstubes.com Video acknowledgements production and editing Dan O’Toole executive producers Shaun Smyth & Denis Taylor drone footage DJ Entertainments Limited & Merseylink Thanks also to: Crossley Gallery, Dean Clough Limited Vic Allen & Danica Ogbjenovic, music licenced by Pond5 composers A Shamaluev. Argsoundexhibition catalogue: written, designed and produced by painters Tubes magazine & Studio 5 Publishing Partners Sweden and the UK ©2019
you can read the full interview with Shaun Smyth in issue number 8 of painters Tubes magazine. free on line, go to www.painterstubes.com