A sculptor whose first public art commission was in Southport is returning to the town in a joint exhibition with his son.
Brian Fell, 73, who grew up in Sefton, will be exhibiting with George, 34, who he has collaborated with over the last 15 years.
The show, ‘Always Something New’ opens at Southport’s Atkinson gallery and arts centre today and runs until 17 October.
Fell senior trained as a sculptor in Manchester, supported by Sefton Council.
Seaforth-born Fell, 73, got the bug to work in metal as an art student attending at Manchester School of Art.
“There was a studio with metal where you could just run riot – I loved it,” he said.
It is a love affair that has lasted more than 50 years.
One of his first public art commissions was in Southport, where he designed the railings for the seafront and created the landmark sculptures celebrating Southport’s seagulls and shrimps and some of the familiar characters who performed on the pier, such as the cyclist and the one-legged diver.
“To be able to be more creative you have to do a lot of practical jobs – I have lost count how many railings I have made,” he said.
He added: “It is great to have an exhibition in Southport where I spent a lot of time in my youth – I never knew about the Atkinson but it is a great venue and the staff have been wonderful.”