The most eye-catching artist ever seen in Southport is getting ready to host his first ever public art exhibition.
Paul Curtis is an incredible talent whose work has left a huge impression in Southport.
In 2021 he created the iconic sand lizard artwork across the Toad Hall building in Ainsdale – the biggest mural in Britain outside London.
It followed his four storey painting of the world’s greatest ever racehorse, Red Rum, in 2020. The giant 15m four-storey high mural on the gable end of a row of buildings on the corner of Scarisbrick Avenue and the Promenade was one of the highlights of the Sefton Borough of Culture. Both works were commissioned by Sefton Council.
The former Liverpool City Region Artist of the Year has also painted a mural of Red Rum on the side of the Bold Hotel on Lord Street; a floor to ceiling Red Rum mural in The Atkinson on Lord Street; and an Audrey Hepburn artwork at David H Myers opticians on London Street.
Liverpool mural artist Paul Curtis and the huge Red Rum artwork in Southport
Perhaps his most famous work is ‘For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds’, (aka ‘The Wings’), which he painted on Jamaica Street in the Baltic Triangle in Liverpool city centre in 2017.
It was a huge success with queues of people eager to have the picture taken with the wings, becoming Liver Birds themselves. Many famous people have done just that, including HRH Camilla Parker-Bowles, Jamie Carragher, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and others. In 2018, the mural was the 19th most geotagged place in the UK, between StoneHenge and Abbey Road.
People can now see Paul’s work on display in an exhibition titled ‘In One Place’, at The Royal Liver Building in Liverpool from Friday, 9th February 2024 to Friday, 23rd February 2024.
Artist Paul Curtis has created a Red Rum mural for a new exhibtion at The Atkinson in Southport. Photo by Paul Curtis Artwork
Paul believes that art should be for all. He has worked closely with arts producer Laura McCann to design an event that will not only showcase Paul’s existing work but also see the artist create new work live and give people a chance to get involved with various activities.
Paul Curtis said:
“I’m incredibly excited about what we have planned and to be exhibiting at The Royal Liver Building.
“It feels like a complete circle to be showing my work in a place so intrinsically linked to my first public mural.
“For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds”, (aka The Wings), simply wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t been inspired by The Royal Liver Building. It’s the most famous building in Liverpool, and I’m proud beyond words to see my work displayed in such a beautiful space.”
Street artist Paul Curtis next to his work ‘For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds’, (aka ‘The Wings’). Photo by Laura McCann
Laura McCann, who has organised multiple exhibitions with various artists said:
“I couldn’t be happier to be collaborating with Paul on his first exhibition. We’ve been working on this a long time and the venue is perfect. Ian Edwards from The Royal Liver Building has been incredibly helpful and we are hugely grateful for his support.”
Paul Curtis is a Liverpool-based artist specialising in street art and large murals. His artwork was created in 2017 and since then, he has created more than 200 public pieces, largely in Southport, Liverpool and Wirral, but also in locations across the UK.
He wasn’t always an artist. It was a redundancy in 2015 and an extended period of unemployment that led to him picking up his brushes. He was a geologist in the oil industry for 15 years and holds an MSC in Petroleum Geoscience from the University of Aberdeen in 2001 and a BSc in Geology and Physical Geography for the University of Liverpool.
Auidrey Hepburn by Paul Curtis at David H Myers Opticians on London Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
He left Liverpool in 2000 to live in Aberdeen for 10 years and then moved to London for five years. He moved back to Liverpool in 2016. At that point he had no idea where his life was going….
After painting ‘The Wings’ in 2017, he has been in huge demand.
Seven years and more than 230 murals later, Paul has decided to bring a selection of his work together in an event called ‘In One Place’, but the artist promises this will be far more than a retrospective display.
Ian Edwards who is CBRE General Manager and responsible for the day to day running of The Royal Liver Building said:
”Paul’s art is synonymous with Liverpool, you just have to take a walk around the city centre to see how it has improved each and every location.
“To work alongside Paul and Laura, bringing his first exhibition into The Royal Liver Building, gives the management team here great pride and excitement.”
Paul Curtis and the Red Rum mural at The Bold Hotel in Southport
The interactive elements of the event will soon be revealed via Paul and Laura social media and they promise to offer something for all.
‘In One Place’ opens on Friday 9th February 2024 and will run daily until Friday 23rd February 2024.
Entry is free and opening hours are 10am-5pm Monday to Friday and 11am-5pm Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information please visit: paulcurtisartwork.com and lauramccannphotos.com or follow Paul and Laura’s socials @paulcurtisartwork @lauramccannphotos
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