On 22 February, ‘Brine, Steam and Rust: industrial landscapes of Northwich’ opens at Cheshire’s award-winning Lion Works Museum, near Northwich. The exhibition comprises 14 beautiful oil paintings by artist, Richard Edmunds who is a former resident of the town. The exhibition, finishing on 1 June, includes a series on the Lion Salt Works prior to its restoration. Members of the public are welcome to be part of the free official launch on 22 February, which will feature a talk by the artist, but booking is essential on 01606 275066
Artist, Richard Edmunds, who now works for Aardman Animations (producers of the renowned ‘Wallace & Gromit’ and ‘Shaun the Sheep’ films) has work on permanent display at Chester’s Grosvenor Museum picture collection, having previously won the Museum’s Biennial Open Art Exhibition competition.
Richard Edmunds, said: “I’ve painted all my life, but I started in earnest when I moved to Northwich. The enormous industrial buildings and their presence on the landscape really inhabited my imagination. Huge towers, platforms mounted high above the ground, chimneys billowing out steam on cold days. Many were still working spaces but others were left abandoned, slowly deteriorating, rusting away and being overtaken and reclaimed by nature. “
“What also fascinated me was the history of the town and its connection with salt and brine extraction. The consequence of this being massive subsidence of buildings and meres being created in the landscape. Seeing buildings at odd angles and others literally falling in to holes that opened up beneath them was extraordinary. I wanted to show this in my paintings, often drawing ‘ghost’ lines where the buildings should or used to be before they became abandoned and started leaning at precarious angles.”
Richard’s works include a series of pictures of the Lion Salt Works Museum before its £10m restoration as well as Winnington Works and Wallerscote Works.
Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, said: “This exhibition on Northwich’s rich industrial past and present is a perfect match for the Lion Salt Works Museum, one of the country’s leading industrial heritage museums. Richard Edmunds’ fresh interpretation of the landscape and buildings of the Northwich area, and the Lion Salt Works itself, will be of interest whether one is a visitor or long-term resident. I hope as many people as possible go along and enjoy this fascinating exhibition.”
The Lion Salt Works Museum was re-opened in 2015 after a four-year £10m restoration. It has gone on to win nine awards, including the National Lottery’s 2016 ‘Heritage Project of the Year’, following a national vote. It is an active museum, offering a year-round programme of events, including plays, folk music events, a steam weekend and an evocative Victorian Christmas. The Museum has a café, large industrially-themed play area, butterfly garden and free parking.
The exhibition is included in the museum’s normal admission charges but visitors should ask at the Museum’s reception if they wish to see the exhibition only. For more information go to www.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk or call 01606 275066.