‘Of Time and Tide’ showcases the work of artist and printmaker Anthony Ratcliffe.
Anthony was born in South Yorkshire and has always based his work around an exploration of British landscape.
His work extends geographically from Shetland, Northwest Scotland, Cumbria, North York Dales and Moors, Dark Peak and the Mersey estuary. Shipwrecks, abandoned fishing stations, tree forms, island shorelines, watercourses and mine workings are captured in watercolours, woodcut prints and artists books.
‘Of Time and Tide’ features recent commissions and projects looking at remote British Landscape from mountain top to shoreline in watercolour and woodcut prints.
Anthony said: “Most of my work is underpinned by the desire to discover things in seemingly bare and remote landscape, usually this starts with maps, literature, historically documented explorations and archaeological discoveries. As part of the exhibition, I thought it would be interesting to apply this approach to parts of the Mersey estuary.
“After some research and visits to Formby, Crosby and Ainsdale I became interested in the shipwreck remains which appear at low tide, known as the mussel wrecks, the reappearance of the remains of Harrington Barracks at Formby and the blitz beach at Crosby.
“The series of watercolours and woodcut prints will visually explore some of these features against the backdrop of the busy estuary, random beach detritus and the broad western facing skyscape.”