Shoppers have been thanked for their fantastic response to a unique pop-up art exhibition in Southport town centre – which is due to close this weekend.
Scores of stunning watercolour paintings by renowned Southport artist John Duffy MBE have gone on sale inside a retail unit in Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in order to raise funds for charity.
John, a former Senior Partner of Hatch and Fielding Estate Agents who died earlier this year, was a talented painter who loved depicting scenes of his home town of Southport, the Lake District and across the world with countries such as France, Italy, Malta and Egypt.
For over 50 years, the trained chartered surveyor and local businessman was a member of Rotary – whose motto is ‘Service Above Self’.
Volunteers from The Rotary Club of Southport are now staffing a pop-up shop in Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport, which has kindly been provided by the arcade, in order to display and sell his wonderful and original works of art. It has been made possible thanks to this very generous donation by John’s family.
Keith Mitchell, from The Rotary Club of Southport, said: “We have got five days left, and would like to thank everyone who has been to see us so far, including everyone who has bought John’s paintings.
“This shop is being staffed by volunteers from The Rotary Club of Southport, with every penny raised going to local charities and good causes through our Southport Rotary Centenary Fund.
“We have got five days to go with this Sunday (6th November) as our last day.
“It;’s a tremendous exhibition, featuring outstanding artwork which has been created by one of our former members.
“Lots of people have been coming in to see the exhibition since we opened in October. We have had over 150 works of art on sale so there has been a lot for people to choose from.
“People have been very impressed by his painting skills.
“They are very unique pictures. John had a real eye for colour and for detail. He must have spent many hours creating them. They are really superb.
“Visitors have been coming in, having a good look around, going away to decide what they want to buy and then coming back again when they have decided.
“I would say so far that John’s pictures of Southport have proved to be the most popular, followed by his pictures of the Lake District, and then his pictures he painted during his travels abroad to places including France, Spain, Malta, Sicily and elsewhere.
“After his wife sadly died he enjoyed going away on painting holidays.
“John’s daughter, Laura Butler, wanted to see as many of his paintings sold as possible so the money raised could go towards helping local charities.
“Her father was a huge supporter of good causes including The Rotary Club of Southport, Southport Samaritans, Peacehaven House and others.
“John is very much missed. He was a quiet gentleman, but he had so many great talents.
“He always had the ability that if someone had just joined our Rotary Club, he would always make them feel very welcome and at home among friends.
“It was our member Sandra Cain’s idea that we should hold an art exhibition. Her commitment has been immense.
“The exhibition has created great interest and we are looking forward to welcoming people to come and see it during these final few days.”
The special legacy project is one of the highlights of this year’s Centenary celebrations for The Rotary Club of Southport.
John’s daughter, Laura Butler, said: “As a chartered surveyor in Southport Dad was lucky enough to visit many properties in his 40 year career and he had a wealth of knowledge about Southport and its buildings.
“He was awarded an MBE for his charitable works in 2016, which was presented by our now King Charles III.
“He was involved in so many things around Southport, all of them local, never national.
“Once John and Mary eventually found their wings, in 1981, they visited various European places including Malta, Venice, and France, and enjoyed various cruises which was another source of inspiration. After Mary died in 2002 that meant a new style of foreign holiday with like-minded individuals and with respected artists tutoring to places like Scilly Isles, Sorrento, Sicily, Venice, Puglia, Annecy, Lake Como and Maggiore, and chateaux in France to name a few, all of which he thoroughly enjoyed.
“His loss is immeasurable to his family but we have a huge collection of paintings and an even bigger collection of sketch books that we are delighted to share.
“As ever, the proceeds of sale from these paintings will be going to charity.
“This time it’s for the Southport Rotary Centenary Charity.”
The exhibition also features five works by Janet Wake, the former Head of Art at Meols Cop High School in Southport; and 20 works of art by Graham Wareing, a member of Churchtown Art Club.
- The John Duffy Watercolours exhibitions and art sale will be at Wayfarers Arcade, Lord Street, Southport, 10am-4pm every Tuesday to Sunday from now until Sunday, 6th November 2022. It will be staffed by volunteers from Southport Rotary.
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