The early days...

Geoff Butterworth began painting full time in 1980 after a serious motorcycle accident ended his career in Engineering. It was a time when Art was in a Renaissance with many Galleries interested in Local Art and artists were everywhere. It was also the end of the Industrial dominance of Cotton Mills and the age of Steam was a distant memory, this gave the area of the Pennines a fresh new vibrancy as it emerged from it’s grimy past. Villages took on a fresh new look as more wealth brought a new pride in Homes and surroundings. It was through this transforming period that Geoff Butterworth developed as an artist. He grew up in the small but character-full Pennine Village of Littleborough and started painting the Moors and Houses of the area. The Watercolours he produced in the first months were a learning curve as he began to find his feet as an artist, experimenting with composition and strength of colour and arriving with a stile that stood out from the looser, washy and often amateurish exhibits seen in most Galleries. He was never interested in the title of ‘Local Artist’ and quickly set about painting the areas he travelled to on his ‘Camera Days’. His work quickly drew attention from Galleries in Saddleworth, near Oldham. Stockport and then into Wales, where several Art shops took his work. By 1983 he was staging one man shows at least twice a year, producing a great deal of work that sold for only Tens of pounds, but was gaining  much attention and in Saddleworth he had his first near sell out show on the preview. Since those early years Geoff has won many Major Awards in National competitions and been commissioned throughout the World, From America to Australia and large collections in many parts of England.

In 1998 Geoff moved into the 300 year Old Parsonage at Whitworth  Lancashire and set up a new Studio.

Biography    Contact   Tuition Days    New Work  &   Links

1980  Started full time painting

1982  First one man show.

1983  Sell out Show at Delph.

1984 Celebrated the Year of the Castles Conway Wales.

1985 Member of the Society of Artists

1986 Exhibitions in Stockport and Manchester. Uppermill and York.

1987 Commissions from Whatman Paper Ltd. World wide publicity.

Elected into Royal Society of Arts.

Exhibition at Knutsfords Church Hill Gallery.

1988 Exhibition at Platform One Gallery

‘Walk into Light’

1989 - 1997 Exhibitions at Whalley, Filey Stockport  Manchester  Castle Combe Rochdale and  Penrith.

1998 Won British Watercolour society Top prize & Mail on Sunday Prize at Ilkley August. Elected a Fellow of the BWS

1998 Won British society of Painters Exhibition at Ilkley  December. Elected as Member of the BWS

1999 Won Top prize at British Watercolour Society for 3rd time. Elected into The International Guild of Artists. March.

1999 Prizewinner at Laing Landscape & Seascape competition Mall Gallery.

2000 Major prizewinner at Laing competition Mall Gallery London.

Headed the first National Exhibition at G-Mex Manchester.

2001 onwards    Exhibited in National competitions.  Singer and Freidlander for Watercolours  and Not the Turner Prize for original artwork.

September 2010  Accepted entry into Sunday Times Watercolour Competition.

30th anniversary Exhibition Towneley Hall.

Contact Geoff at  :-

The Old Parsonage

Whitworth Rake

Whitworth

Rochdale

Lancashire OL12 8PQ

Tel 01706 633095

e-mail

Geoff's Studio is always open for visitors To discuss commissions or to purchase a Print or an Original Painting.

A great advantage to anyone wanting a painting is that Geoff is a very talented Picture Framer too so any commission will be finished to a very high standard. All included in the price. Customer satisfaction is most important.

For details of Painting Days or afternoons read on.

Tuition

Whether if you are a complete beginner or an experienced amateur, you can always gain from tips and guidance from a professional. Watercolour is a difficult medium to master but added knowledge will make your painting easier and more enjoyable. The Paper paints and Brushes all affect your painting, as well as mediums such as Ox Gall and Gum Arabic. With One to One tuition an afternoon or a full day can make all the difference.

Tuition available on Thursday Friday and Saturdays

From 10.30 till 4.0pm for the Day.  Price £85.00

From 1.00 till 4.0pm for an afternoon. Price £45.00

                Including refreshments

Please bring with you your artwork  This will give me a guide to your experience and it will open the discussion about subjects and materials.

New Work

October/November

Whitworth

A671

To Rochdale 3 miles

M62 5.5m

To Bacup 5 miles

Old Parsonage

Studio

Church

Red Lion Pub

Dog & Partridge

Mirco’s Restaurant

Links

TOP

  Lobden Golf Club

Rake Farm

The Old Parsonage.   Whitworth.  Lancashire.  OL12 8PQ    Tel 01706 633095

ASCOT Studios.      Bee Mill   Ribchester   Lancashire             Originals only                                                                           

OSCARS  Gallery. Lytham-St Anns. Lancashire                       Originals and Prints

OSCARS  Gallery.  Rawtenstall, Lancashire                           Originals and Prints

GALLERY 1  Lord Street.  Southport.  Lancashire                   Originals and Prints

SANDIFORDS Gallery.  Rochdale. Lancashire                 Originals Prints and Calendars

BECKSTONE Gallery.  Graystoke. Penrith.  Cumbria                  Originals only

THE SMITHY Gallery. Kettlewell. Yorkshire                          Originals and Prints

BIRMINGHAM Watercolour Society                                           Exhibitions

TOWNELEY HALL. Lancashire.                                                Exhibitions

Home

LITTLEBOROUGH Gallery   Lancashire.                               Originals and Prints

Prints

Rosemary & Co                                                       Handmade Brushes

New work in progress...

Rochdale 1957

‘ The end of the Sat’dy Matinee..’

   A brand new watercolour showing the Regal Cinema on a summer Saturday in 1957. As the Town Hall clock strikes 4.00 the cinema doors burst open and Eric Wild steers the Littleborough bus to the stop. Three minutes earlier James Cagney bit the dirt yet again. Question is:  How many gangsters can a Littleborough Bus hold ?  

Geoff

BUTTERWORTH

Fine Arts