GOLDEN GLOW

The warm glow of sodium street lights in towns and villages across the region, features prominently in a stunning new art book

A creative collaboration between a Manchester artist and a Ribble Valley designer has manifested in the publication of a glorious book recording an artistic journey through acclaimed paintings and writings.

Over the last 10 years Chris Cyprus has created 250 original paintings entitled Northern Lights a series which captures the twilight moments as the daylight fades and the sodium street light illuminates the charming, everyday northern scene.

When Chris embarked on this project little did he know that a new government initiative would give him a deadline – with the replacement of the warm glow of sodium lights with new whiter LED street lamps.

This story led Chris to appear on The One Show last year, which focused on his street scenes of Ramsbottom. Since this national exposure his reputation has grown and worldwide sales followed. At that point, Chris decided to resurrect a plan to create a limited edition hardback book to commemorate the series ending on painting #250.

Chris met the designer of his book, Ribble Valley-based Andy Schofield, director of Latitude Marketing, when Andy paid a visit to Chris’s Studio in Mossley in his other capacity as owner of the Longitude Art Gallery in Clitheroe.

Andy invited Chris to exhibit at the gallery and he was also the guest speaker at one of their art dinners. It was from this exhibition that Andy bought his first Northern Lights paintings.

Andy comments: “My wife and I love Chris’s paintings, so when Chris told me he planned to make a book I instantly volunteered to design it. In exchange for a much treasured painting of course!

“One of the difficulties we encountered when laying out the book was choosing which of the images to feature. If we had the budget I think we’d have made a full page from nearly every piece as each one has a unique focal point.”

“Chris has a great talent in making the mundane seem interesting. One of the paintings I own even makes a bag of building sand look romantic. It’s been one of the most pleasing personal design projects I have undertaken. Hopefully in a few years I’ll be able to design the next instalment of his work.”

The book was launched at a final exhibition of the Northern Lights series in Manchester city centre. They have been very well received and orders have flooded in from across the country.

Kathryn Rowbottom, who originally lived in Ramsbottom saw The One Show and immediately got in touch with Chris to buy some prints of Holcombe Hill that held special childhood memories for her.

Kathryn commented on her recent book purchase: “I’ve got mine and it’s the most beautiful book I have ever owned. The fantastic print is being framed and I’m excited to get it back and on the wall! Thank you Chris.”

Clearly Chris has struck a chord with many through his unique ability to make a connection with his audience through art.

The hardback book comes encased in a solid blue box with a signed limited edition print of painting #250. Only 250 have been made available as a special edition, however a soft-back version is now available.

Three of Chris’s new works can be seen currently at the Longitude Gallery and signed books are available to purchase in both hard and soft-back versions.

latitudestudios.co.uk
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