Shop Fronts Mugs

Shop Fronts, Hull, England

Wand Shop Number of views as of 13th October 2017 = 2120. 'Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C', or so reads the inscription over the doorway of the wand shop in Diagon Alley made famous by the series of books and films about a popular wizard character, whose name I am apparently not allowed to mention any more. Date: 9th March 2014.

Deptford is one of those places that has been on the periphery of my life, most of my life. I used to wander here from Surrey Docks in the 1980s, and it was as vibrant and diverse then as it is now. Edgy, alive, exciting. I loved the colours and textures of these shops, so I painted them. The canvas is 0.4 inches deep. It can therefore hang without the need for framing if wished.

Camden High Street London NW1 England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Camden High Street London NW1 England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Camden High Street London NW1 England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

A row of shops in Edinburgh, cosy against the darkness of the day. Lights give out warmth, an invitation to enter and bask, a note of cheer and welcome. The buildings are solid, as though they have been here forever. The sky is blue, but it is cold, the thin light not reaching the street anymore. A street in Edinburgh. This work is rich in details and in colour. It is atmospheric and unusual. A great gift, a wonderful souvenir of Scotland’s capital city.

Many years ago, as a student, I used to live in Deptford. It felt exciting, new, fresh and edgy. An intensity of sights and colour, shops of bright and exotic produce, music that rattled and alternative bookshops in damp, decaying spaces that seemed full of promise. Life moved on and so did I, and one day I returned, to briefly reconnect with my old self, with times gone by, a Proustian moment of bitter sweetness. This work depicts a row of shops, simple and full of character. The work is a great souvenir of London.