By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The new Grant Searl Art & The Northerner Art Gallery in Southport is now open!
The gallery has opened on the ground floor of Wayfarers Shopping Arcade on Lord Street.
It features two units packed with Grant’s stunning artwork, which reflect his different styles.
They include his famous ‘retro surrealism’, which spark people’s memories, and his work as ‘The Northerner’, steeped in the North’s recent industrial past.
The new gallery will allow Grant to create his art inside the space, which can also be utilised for events and workshops.
Grant has been supported in opening the gallery by his wife, Maggie, who sells eclectic, unusual and eye-catching ornaments.
Grant is part of a growing artistic, cultural and creative renaissance happening inside Wayfarers Shopping Arcade, with other tenants including: Gallery More; The Engine Room, Ruthie Illustrations; Design by Gavriela; Wayfarers Arts; Brandwall; and more.
The arcade is busy in the run-up to Christmas, hosting Santa’s Grotto and the Craft & Gift Fair on various dates during December.
Grant said: “I am really excited to see the gallery opening inside Wayfarers Arcade.
“It feels good to be open! I’m very positive about being here.
“This is not just an art gallery. We will also be able to offer an educational side, hosting lessons, workshops, and adding to the variety of the arcade.
“I am looking forward to doing some painting in here. It will be a working studio as well as an art gallery.
“Shopping has evolved. Retail has become theatre! You can no longer open a static shop, sit back and expect people to just walk in.
“You have to create an experience for people to enjoy, to make them want to come.
“There are different sections of this shop that people can see, with a variety of different artwork, and prices, to suit people.
“There might be something you find that’s perfect for you for Christmas.
“One section of the gallery will showcase art by Grant Searl; another is dedicated to ‘The Northerner’ style artworks; another features local scenes.
“I have painted the chocolate shop in Churchtown Village, The Swan Chippy, and I’m looking forward to doing one on Lord Street.
“People are often surprised when they come in and discover that all the art in here is done by the same artist. But people who like one style, will often like another.
“I am looking forward to using the amazing space inside Wayfarers Arcade to be able to organise a couple of art fairs, hopefully a couple a year.”
Grant was delighted when the opportunity for his new Grant Searl Art & The Northerner Art Gallery inside Wayfarers Arcade became available.
He said: “This is such a beautiful space; it’s iconic. It’s right in the heart of Southport town centre, so it’s really easy for people to come and discover what we have to offer.
“I was very impressed by how reasonable the rents are inside the arcade.
“There have been a few new tenants arriving at Wayfarers this year and there seems to be a real energy to bring new life into this venue. The possibilities of what could happen here are exciting.
“Southport is changing, Lord Street is changing, there is so much new investment.
“The ‘Northern Quarter’ is attracting some great restaurants, bars and hotels.
“Wayfarers Arcade is becoming more like an art and cultural community, which is very appealing to me.
“If the arcade moves forward in the way we hope, it will be a great success.
“I feel very proud to be in Wayfarers Arcade. I used to love coming in here as a kid.
“Owning an art gallery inside here is a dream I have had for years.”
- For more details about Grant Searl Art & The Northerner Art Gallery please visit: www.grantsearlart.com
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