The Mersey stands out as an industrial powerhouse, with giant chimneys grazing the sky in every direction. Yet it’s the people that have reshaped it into the cultural force it is best known for today. Shaun Smyth is a local artist who is bridging the gap between the Mersey’s two faces, drawing inspiration from the industrial heart of the river and the colourful pulse of the working-class community.
Inspired by contrast
Shaun Smyth grew up in Runcorn, surrounded by family who worked in the industries alongside the Mersey.
In time he followed a similar path, and it was while working for pocket money as a labourer that he gained an appreciation for industrial architecture. Having the lung-busting industry practically at his doorstep, Shaun noticed things others didn’t.
It wasn’t until he was atop a local quarry that he felt the stark contrast between the grey industrial landscape below and the towering peaks of mountains in the distance. Says Shaun:
I enjoy the contrast between the natural world and man-made structures. I feel it’s my responsibility to record the changes I’ve seen in my local area and how industry impacts and changes the environment. My work is an artistic visual record of the town I grew up in and I hope it captures a moment in time of the rapid changing landscapes of the northwest area.
Partnering with local people
Shaun soon swapped a labourer’s tools for a paint brush but has always believed the strength of an industrial town comes from its working-class people. Building strong relationships with workers is a key part of his creative process: he believes their expertise is essential to help him capture every detail.
During the construction of the Mersey Gateway bridge, Shaun documented the huge project in drawings and paintings – now on display in the Catalyst Museum in Widnes. Each week the bridge builders sent him photos of the site to help him with his paintings.
He explains:
Having regular conversations about construction mirrors the artistic process of creating a piece of work. Through these conversations, and visits to the sites I’m working on, supports my ideas, development, composition, and experimentation with scale, as these sites are huge and complex.
Turning challenges into art
Shaun’s most significant challenge was hearing loss, which began at a young age. However, as an adult Shaun says he has embraced his deafness, believing it helped shape his career as a visual artist, using his paintings as a form of communication.
A more recent challenge has been juggling his own artistic career with supporting new artists in his other career as a teacher. Says Shaun:
I think the biggest challenge I face in my art journey is about ensuring I have balance in my life as I’m now in a new position in a new school in Liverpool as Head of Creative Arts, overseeing Art, Music, Photography, Drama & Dance.
What’s next?
Shaun is well known for painting large murals rich with detail. His most recent exhibition showcased the working life and the first of the two-part demolition of the colossal Fiddlers Ferry power station, an idea he had back in 2017. He held the expedition in April last year, in collaboration with photographer Lee Harrison, at the World of Glass Museum in St Helens. However, Shaun isn’t done with the cooling towers yet!
He says:
As part of the second power station exhibition focusing on the site’s demolition I have been exploring painting on scrap signs. I like the idea of repurposing artifacts and using them as pieces of art.
I’m looking into scrap yards and the issue of recycling as a potential next project. I also have an interest in recording the docklands.
On top of this, he says he’s focusing on ensuring his legacy as a teacher, inspiring the next generation of creatives.
Says Shaun:
As a teacher I hope the students adopt the passion and love I have for the subject and that they continue to develop their work and identity through the arts.
Many of Shaun’s works can be found in the Halton Council Heritage Collection, and he hopes future generations will enjoy them.
