The Atkinson paid partnership
The artist who created some of Southport’s most iconic seaside sculptures is back in town for a stunning exhibition featuring an eclectic collection of work curated by himself and his son, who work together on projects.
Brian and George Fell: Always Something New opens at The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport town centre this Saturday (13th June 2026) and runs until Saturday 17th October 2026.
It is the first public art exhibition which has featured works by Brian, 73, and son, George, 35.
In one of his earlier commissions, Brian designed and created the eye-catching sculptures of the famous ‘Southport Professors’, high up on columns near Silcock’s Carousel and Silcock’s Funland.
Further sculptures in Kings Gardens include a giant sun, a huge shrimp and a large seagull, along with the railings along the seafront.
Southport Pier used to host three daredevil ‘Professors’, who used to leap from the end of the structure into a small pool of water below.
Tourists during the late 19th century and early 20th century would travel many miles to see them.
Brian and George are in Southport to unveil a very special new sculpture which has taken them three months to create specially for their new exhibition at The Atkinson – a stunning giant natterjack toad, an endangered species which is local to Southport.
Brian said: “Those sculptures in Southport were one of my first commissions! It’s great coming back to Southport to see them.
“I was given the brief to create something that was iconic for the seaside in Southport. I grew up in Seaforth and Thornton, and my Grandad always used to tell me about the famous ‘Professors’ who used to leap into the sea from Southport Pier in front of cheering crowds.
“One of them only had one leg – another used to ride off the end of the Pier on his bicycle.
“I also created one of a seagull, and one of a sun as well.
“I dipped them in galvanised zinc, and they have stood the test of time really well – they look good now.
“You wouldn’t get people leaping from the end of Southport Pier these days – health and safety wouldn’t allow it!
“Southport Pier is such a fantastic landmark for Southport, and I’m so pleased to see it being repaired.
“When I was younger I used to enjoy coming for days out in Southport. I loved going to see soul music at the Floral Hall. The people here have always been so friendly.
“The architecture in Southport is fantastic, the buildings here are so beautiful. It’s been great to see Southport Market being transformed.”
Father and son team Brian and George Fell have been working together for over 15 years.
Brian lives in Glossop while George lives in Ancoats in Manchester city centre.
They both travel to work together at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
The pair pride themselves on creating public art that has a sense of place at its heart. There are examples of their work all over the country, pictures of which you can see at The Atkinson alongside some of their sculptures.
They show how art has transformed public spaces with the Professors in Southport, a huge elephant in Kirkby town centre, and many more.
They work for various local authorities and developers across the UK.
They also work for private individuals – Brian’s work has been commissioned by movie director Stanley Kubrick, while George has created several commissions for Bez from Happy Mondays.
People in Southport will be able to see their newest work – a giant Natterjack toad.
Brian and George said: “We chose the name for our exhibition, because we are always creating something new and very different.
“Our styles are very unique, although we enjoy working together on some commissions, such as the natterjack toad.
“That is something which is endangered and is pretty unique to the Sefton coastline so we thought it would be perfect to show here.
“It took us around three months to complete but we’re very proud of it. We hope people enjoy coming to see it.
“We have no idea what’s going to happen to it when this exhibition ends in October – maybe it’s going to hop away somewhere!
“We have had a lot of enjoyment making this one.
“There is a huge variety of work on display here going back 40 years.
“I taught George how to weld and he started coming into the studio when he was 16 years old.
“We enjoy working together, which is good mostly – there’s a lot of banter! He has a wacky imagination and produces some brilliant sculptures.”
Brian and George both love the physicality of making sculpture. Their partnership, which began when George left school, has supported Brian’s established reputation as an accomplished public artist who can make anything in steel and enabled George to develop his own style.
Brian trained as a sculptor at Manchester School of Art, supported by Sefton Council.
One of his first public art commissions was in Southport, where he designed the railings for the seafront and created the landmark sculptures celebrating Southport’s seagulls and shrimps and some of the familiar ‘Professors’ who performed on the pier, such as the cyclist and the one-legged diver.
The exhibition at the Atkinson highlights key commissions from the past 40 years, with a special focus on the work Brian and George have done together. Always making, the show also presents some of the creative work they do for themselves.
Brian has found a way to spend his life and earn a living making things, and has passed this on to George, who has inherited his father’s creative drive.
Visitors will get an insight into the craft of metalwork at both a monumental and domestic scale and the working relationship between a father and son.
The show reveals the approach of a mature artist who moves between materials and uses both figurative and abstract forms to explore and construct his ideas and a dynamic early career artist who brings steel to life using intricate detail.
- Brian and George Fell: Always Something New is at The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport from Saturday, 13th June 2026 until Saturday 17th October 2026. Admission is free.
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