King Street Manchester with GPT Review

  Hi everybody here is a painting and video of King Street Manchester, I used to work in the building on the left as a call centre worker, I love the architeture and buildings around the area .by Andrew Alan Matthews. hope you like it  

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

A bit of history

King Street is one of the most important thoroughfares of Manchester For much of the 20th century it was the centre of the north west banking industry but it has become progressively dominated by expensive shops instead of large banks.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

King Street Manchester 

It used to be 

Banking Centre of the city 

Its sitting pretty 

With solid buildings 

And Masonry

lovingly carved

So Its not hard 

To love this street

As your pounding your feet 

To a Mancunian beat

Take a look around 

Its Sound as a pound

Used to work in the building on the left

Then I left 

A call centre worker 

working hard 

in this back yard 

Now its full of shoppers 

Expensive shops surround you

Trendy bars 

Full of stars 

Cars and taxis 

buzz about 

As the day fades to night 

Its alright 

On an autumn night 

Yeah 

King Street Manchester 

It used to be 

Banking Centre of the city 

Its sitting pretty 

With solid buildings 

And Masonry

lovingly carved

So Its not hard 

To love this street

As your pounding your feet 

To a Mancunian beat

On King street

Life’s at full beat

https://youtu.be/BJoj11rh6iA

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of King Street Manchester by day. 

Thank you for sharing your painting and accompanying poem, King Street Manchester by Day. Here's a detailed review and critique of both the visual and written components:

Overall Impression:
Your piece is a dynamic and textural tribute to the architectural soul of Manchester. It hums with character and vibrancy, capturing the evolving narrative of King Street — from its banking roots to its modern rhythm.

Strengths:

• Expressive Texture: The impasto technique (thick, layered paint) adds weight and presence to the buildings, reinforcing the idea of permanence and history. The tactile brushstrokes suggest the solidity of the past and the buzz of the present.
   
• Perspective & Composition: The central vanishing point draws the viewer’s gaze through the city’s layers — from the pedestrians and storefronts to the golden-red brick structure and the monolithic "CITY TOWER" in the background. It gives a strong sense of movement and urban space.
   
• Color Palette: The moody blues, greys, and ochres evoke both the coolness of autumn and the warmth of nostalgia. The fiery copper tones on the building in the middle create a glowing focal point that radiates pride and heritage.
   
• Human Activity: Including scattered figures dressed in everyday clothing, some mid-step or in conversation, enhances the lived-in feel. Their casual poses contrast nicely with the imposing structures, humanizing the scene.
   

Suggestions for Development:

• Foreground Clarity: While the blurred and impressionistic foreground adds motion, some figures might benefit from slightly more definition to help anchor the viewer. Right now, a couple of them verge on being ghostlike — which could be intentional, but clarity might strengthen narrative impact.
   
• Sky Texture: The sky, with its layered streaks, is effective in mood, but consider softening transitions between the clouds to enhance depth and avoid flattening the skyline.
   
• Street Detail: Some road markings and reflections hint at wet pavement, which is a great touch — perhaps adding more defined reflections or pooling light would enrich the atmosphere even further.
   

Tone & Voice:
The poem is conversational, rhythmic, and carries the authentic voice of someone deeply rooted in the city. There's a charming mix of pride, nostalgia, and local flavor — complete with Mancunian slang and lived experience.

Highlights:

• Repetition & Rhythm: The repeated stanza adds a musical loop, much like a street performer riffing to passersby. This reinforces the sense of heartbeat — of a city that loops through time and memory.
   
• Personal Narrative: Lines like “Used to work in the building on the left / Then I left” are quietly powerful — they ground the poem in your own story without overexplaining. This blend of the personal and public is where the poem shines most.
   
• Mancunian Identity: Phrases like "sound as a pound" and "pounding your feet / To a Mancunian beat" are excellent — poetic yet colloquial. They contribute to a strong sense of place and cultural pride.
   

Suggestions for Development:

• Tighten Structure: While the casual tone works well, a little polishing in stanza flow and internal rhyme could help elevate some sections without losing the raw voice. For example:
   “Cars and taxis / buzz about”
  Could become something like:
  “Taxis dart and engines shout”
  
   
• Expand Contrast: You hint at the street's transformation from financial hub to shopping hotspot — consider expanding this a little. Adding one or two lines about what’s lost or gained in that evolution might deepen the emotional impact.
   

Together, the painting and poem form a cohesive, heartfelt tribute to King Street — past and present. Your perspective as a local, former worker, and now artist adds a rich authenticity. The poem's repetition reinforces the street’s heartbeat, while the painting captures its physical form and pulse.

"King Street Manchester by Day" is a powerful celebration of place — a sensory and emotional walk down memory lane and into the modern city. It succeeds in making the viewer and reader feel the street, not just see it. With slight refinements, this piece could serve brilliantly in a local exhibition or publication focused on urban heritage, memory, or cultural transformation.

Comments from the public

 I use to work on Cross Street in the cardshop near Albert Square and use to go to the big Nat West everyday for change . King st was full of banks then this is 1978 the other end was very posh at that time but it was a lovely area  by Lynda 

 I worked in Spring Gardens in the 60s I used to hand deliver files and often walked down King Street and all the Posh Shops or Boutiques as there now called happy days 

 by Lynn

I used to work as a waiter then manager at the 'Great American Disaster' restaurant at the bottom end of King Street. (1973 - 1975-ish.)

Great restaurant, great staff, great clients, great memories and still the best burgers that I have ever eaten.

Regards to all. by Nick

 I used to work in the grey building on the left between 1972 - 1987, when it was NatWest bank.  by Aileen

Hello everybody, here is a painting and short video story of The Hotspur Press Manchester by Andrew Alan Matthews. Hope you like it

A3 Print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

 A bit of history and what’s happening with the site today

Plans to redevelop The Hotspur Press have been approved by Manchester City Council’s Planning Committee. 

The transformation of the former mill and printing press will preserve much of the existing brick façade and celebrate the heritage of the building. The redevelopment includes 595 student bedrooms across a 37-storey tower and connected public realm improvements for the wider community. 

As well as restoring the historic façade of this iconic building, the approved plans will: 

· Create a new community-focused public square.  

· Promote thriving independent businesses that will bring a special character and energy to the area within the ground floor of the building. 

· Landscape the public realm, planting new trees, and with the ambition to enhance the adjacent River Medlock, enriching the wildlife and biodiversity of the area. 

Over recent months, we have been engaging with the local community to help shape and develop our plans for the public realm. We’ve also been exploring ideas of ways to celebrate the cultural heritage of The Hotspur Press and the surrounding redeveloped mill buildings. 

We are now actively looking for independent operators to occupy the building’s ground floor commercial space. We are targeting organisations that fit with our aspirations for The Hotspur Press and that will bring something different to the neighbourhood.   

In addition, we are in contact with nearby building operators and other partners in the city to explore how our development can act as a catalyst to further improve pedestrian links and connections across this part of the city centre.  

The Hotspur Press forms part of Manchester’s industrial heritage. Built on the bank of the Medlock in 1801, this former cotton mill had fallen into a state of disrepair. The building can now be repurposed for the modern era and regain its status as a celebrated local landmark. 

Engaging with the community

Since we submitted the planning application in December, we have been working with the City Council and local residents to further improve our plans.   

These constructive and positive conversations have helped us to better understand how we can make the best possible contribution to the local neighbourhood and ensure the construction process is carefully managed to minimise local disruption.   

These discussions have been immensely helpful, and we are excited to be working together to deliver the regeneration of The Hotspur Press.   

The plans include a commitment to set up a Community Liaison Group to provide information to residents about the construction works and then the operation of the building. This will help us to quickly respond to any questions and concerns.

Manner's roots are firmly established in the development of regenerative city centre projects. Working with local communities and stakeholders, we’re driven by a vision to transform outmoded buildings into exceptional places that will carve the trajectory of the urban landscape for generations to come. 

We understand the importance of heritage assets such as The Hotspur Press and our track record speaks to an unwavering dedication to deliver buildings of the highest architectural integrity, which respect the historical significance of their local areas, yet embrace modern city living.

Acting as both Developer and Operator, we take a long-term approach, meaning we value the importance of building strong relationships with local residents, ensuring we create places which are deeply rooted to their neighbourhoods and that enable diverse communities to flourish.  In doing so, we recognise the positive Regenerative Value Creation this can deliver for our people, places and planet.

Credit -

https://www.hotspurpressmanchester.co.uk/

Video Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

The Hotspur Press Manchester

On the bank of the Medlock in 1801

Engine room of the city 

Little Ireland part of town 

People frown and get down

In an old cotton town

Lives were lost 

Back in the day 

Fire was licking and flickin 

In cottonopolis town

Cotton mill replaced 

As Percy Brothers 

took on the scene

Cotton and Printworker ghosts 

In fumes of lead and ink 

Fill the place 

an Iconic 

Mancunian place

Those workers toiled away 

day in day out

They Had fun and laughter too 

Social clubs, 

snooker, darts and cribbage 

have a rummage through this place 

then an Artists place 

in yer face

Them times are gone

And as you look on this scene 

On a bus into the city 

Where graffiti and 

Weeds cover the place 

Proper Manchester of old 

Where it was cold 

But its pure gold 

So don’t knock it down 

Renovate it 

Make it 

the entrance to the city 

where Mancunians 

welcome you in 

So yeah 

The Hotspur Press Manchester

On the bank of the Medlock in 1801

Engine room of the city 

Little Ireland part of town 

People frown and get down

In an old cotton town

https://youtu.be/bBWAc8A6ppQ

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of the Hotspur Press Manchester by day. 

Review and Critique of The Hotspur Press Manchester by Day by Andrew Alan Matthews

Andrew, your painting of The Hotspur Press Manchester by Day captures the spirit and grit of Manchester with undeniable flair. The rich red-brick texture of the building, painted with expressive strokes, immediately grounds the viewer in its industrial history. The use of impasto technique gives the work texture and physicality—fitting for a piece depicting a structure built on labor and legacy.

Key Strengths:

• Character and Atmosphere: You’ve imbued the piece with life through your rough, almost impressionistic brushwork. The street scene—people walking, graffiti on walls, cracks in the pavement—conveys a vibrant but decaying Manchester, resisting erasure.
   
• Color Use: The contrast between the bright, saturated reds of the building and the muted grays and blues of the sky creates a nostalgic mood. It's dreary but warm—evoking the emotional complexity of Manchester itself.
   
• Detail & Messaging: Including graffiti like “WE ❤️ MCR” and “MCFC” adds modern references that root the image in current culture while tying it back to its industrial past. The visible text "Percy Brothers / The Hotspur Press" reinforces the historical layering you explore in your poem.
   

Suggestions for Development:

• Perspective: The perspective is charmingly wonky, which adds to the character, but the proportions of the figures are slightly inconsistent in a way that distracts in some spots. For example, some figures feel more distorted than others, which could be intentional—but balancing their forms a bit more might help unify the scene.
   
• Depth & Light: You might explore adding subtle light gradients or shadows to enhance spatial depth. The foreground could pop more with refined contrast—especially around the pedestrians and street level details.
   
• Typography Integration: The painted signage could blend more organically with the architecture. At present, it floats slightly above the structure, which might be a stylistic choice—but softening the edges or applying slight shadowing could give it a more integrated look.
   

Your poem is a deeply evocative ode to a vanishing Manchester—part historical narrative, part personal plea. There’s a raw rhythm and authenticity that speaks to anyone familiar with the city’s soul.

Highlights:

• Urban Folklore Tone: You’ve captured the oral-tradition feel with lines like “Fire was licking and flickin / In cottonopolis town.” It reads like spoken word—honest, urgent, working-class in tone.
   
• Historical Depth: Referencing Little Ireland, cotton mills, the Percy Brothers, and even specific social club games (cribbage, darts) paints a vivid, textured timeline of the space.
   
• Emotional Appeal: The plea to “don’t knock it down / Renovate it / Make it / the entrance to the city” is heartfelt and political. It adds a layer of protest—one artist calling out to save the heart of a city being “redeveloped” into blandness.
   

Suggestions:

• Tighten the rhythm: While the freestyle form fits the tone, some parts could benefit from slight tightening for greater impact. For instance, the repetition of the opening stanza at the end might be reworked to emphasize transformation or hope.
   
• Polish the flow: A few lines might flow better with adjusted punctuation or line breaks (e.g., “So yeah / The Hotspur Press Manchester…” might hit harder if rephrased or placed after a stronger emotional crescendo).
   

This piece—painting and poem together—is a powerful, multi-layered tribute to Manchester’s cultural and industrial heritage. It’s gritty, unapologetically emotional, and steeped in local pride. You’re not just documenting history—you’re fighting for it, visually and verbally.

Rating (if we must quantify):
🌟🌟🌟🌟½ out of 5 – A compelling, character-filled portrait of Manchester that connects past and present through expressive painting and soulful verse.

If you're planning to exhibit this or release the video story, pairing the visual with a recorded reading of the poem (with ambient Manchester street sounds) could turn it into an immersive multimedia experience.

-------------------

Comments from the general public

 The old dunlops building on the other side - there used to be a carpet shop in the cellar - same cellar was the stables that housed the army horses used in the peterloo massacre . by Keith

We saw Andrews  Art ina lovely new gallery walkway in Saleand were immediately taken with his evocative style. When we saw his picture of Hotspur House we new we had to buy it as we have a family connection to the buiding. Andy then hand delivered it the next day (we happened to live near Him)and we had a lovely chat about the building and his art. its a real pleasure to support a local artist who is clearly passionate about their work and that comes through in his pieces. By Tim

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition Print £50   Contact me

Hi everybody here is a painting and video about healing  

The Healing Place  An urban place  

the rat race  in yer face   

a man looks on the view  

Contemplates life  trouble and strife  

As people walk by  

Hustling and bustling  In a Manchester scene  

But hes serene   

Cos It’s a Mood scene  

A shakra of colours stare out at you  

Vibrant and bright  Healing colours  Fill the scene 

Is it a dream 

A painting about a man   Contemplating life   

has a stressful life   

He says  I am not a number  

As he Shouts out loud  To the crowd    

questions the reality of this  

Is he a number  Or is he not a number 

 doesn’t know for sure   

cos its the big question  people want to know  

 but hes Standing firm  

He says I am not a number  

 A Modern day life trouble and strife   

Rebels against the system 

Hes on a mission   

Cos hes in a healing place   

CBT to heal the stress  confess   

Worked out his problems  Addressed his issues  

planed a way forward   to overcome stress     

Subliminal message 

 Sings out to him Its all clear now  

 Have a happy life  With no trouble and strife 

  so Yeah  The Healing Place  

An urban place  

the rat race  

in yer face 

 https://youtu.be/D1hqCzWBphM   

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of Urbis on the Cusp. 

Thank you for sharing your powerful painting and poem “Urbis on the Cusp – The Healing Place.” Here’s a review and critique that reflects on both the visual and narrative elements of the work:

Your painting is a vivid and emotionally rich portrayal of Manchester, centering on Urbis, a distinctive and symbolic landmark. The use of bold, expressive brushwork and thick impasto gives the piece a tactile energy that mirrors the emotional intensity of the accompanying poem.

• Color Palette: The chakra-like colors radiating from the sunset sky to the street level infuse the scene with spiritual warmth and vitality. The fiery reds and oranges, set against cooler tones of blue and turquoise, speak of both chaos and calm—perfectly echoing the turmoil and healing in the narrative.
   
• Composition: The towering presence of Urbis acts as both a physical and metaphorical anchor. The juxtaposition of the angular, modernist architecture with the small, anonymous figures emphasizes how overwhelming urban life can feel.
   
• Figures: The repeated, nearly identical human figures suggest uniformity, dehumanization, or assimilation—tying in beautifully with the poem’s line, “I am not a number.” There’s something haunting about their bowed heads and isolated movements, suggesting alienation despite the crowd.
   
• Details: The graffiti-style “WE ❤️ MCR” and the luminous reflections on the ground inject humanity and hope into an otherwise anonymous space. These touches show care and connection within the metropolitan coldness.
   

Your poem, “The Healing Place,” reads like a stream-of-consciousness outpouring—a mixture of social commentary, emotional exploration, and personal rebellion. It dances between urban realism and internal revelation, grounded in Manchester yet universal in its themes.

• Raw Honesty: There’s something very authentic and gutsy about the way you approach mental health, identity, and healing. Lines like “I am not a number” and “Rebels against the system” resonate as a call for humanity in a mechanized world.
   
• Rhythm & Voice: The poetic structure is deliberately loose, conversational, almost like a performance piece or a spoken word track. This suits the urban grit of the subject matter.
   
• Healing Arc: You introduce not just the stress of city life and corporate dehumanization, but also the path toward healing—CBT, self-reflection, and hope. That positive trajectory offers more than just critique; it offers possibility.
   

• Title Clarification: “Urbis on the Cusp” is intriguing. Perhaps consider making “the cusp” more defined in the poem. Is it the cusp of change? Breakdown? Enlightenment?
   
• Figure Detail: If one of the figures (perhaps the man contemplating life) could be more visually distinct, he’d act as an emotional focal point. Perhaps through color contrast, posture, or placement.
   
• Poetic Focus: The repetition of “trouble and strife” is strong, but maybe temper its use or expand it with new imagery. Diversifying the metaphors would deepen the emotional layers.
   

This is a moving multimedia piece that speaks of personal struggle, societal pressure, and the hard-won path to inner peace. You’ve captured the tension between the crowd and the self, between stress and serenity, with vivid energy. There’s a therapeutic, almost rebellious joy in how you reclaim Manchester not just as a backdrop for urban toil, but as “The Healing Place.”

A modern urban mantra wrapped in paint and poetry.

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition Print £50   Contact me

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of the Mancunian way by day on the Cambridge street roundabout, by Andrew Alan Matthews  

A bit of history 

The Mancunian Way is a two mile long elevated motorway in Manchester. The road forms a major part of the Manchester – Salford inner ring road. The Mancunian Way was officially opened by Prime Minister Harold Wilson on 5 May 1967. At the time of its opening the Manchester Evening News referred to it as the "highway in the sky" It cost was £5.5m (£106m in today's money. My Dad was one of the first to drive over it on the day of opening. 

The road was in the BBC TV drama Life on Mars. The central character, Sam Tyler, is knocked down by a car and "awakens" in 1973. The accident occurs by the Mancunian Way, and when he awakens, he does so on wasteland, with a nearby billboard advertising the planned "Highway in the Sky". Of course, the road was long completed by 1973. Also the 2006 Take That  Album Beautiful world  includes a track entitled "Mancunian Way", which is about the city of Manchester. The group was formed in Manchester and three of the five original members are from the Greater Manchester area. 

A story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

Mancunian way by day Don’t Stay away  

Come here today  

 It’s the Manchester way  

Look at the view 

A Skyline changing  

With skyscrapers  Scraping the sky  

Near the Highway in the sky   

And here you can see  

A view from the bus  

People fuss and cuss 

On the busy bus   

But take in that view  

Manchester on cue  

And if you drive on the bridge 

 A long sweeping bridge  

You can see Manchester  From a perch so high   

Concrete Glass and steel  

Is it real  

You can feel Manchester  Comin alive  

As you enter the city  

Lots of people  Buzzin about   

Worker bees on the way to work  

Shoppers  Clip cloppers  Ploddin about  

Mancunian louts  Givin a shout  

Theres Old and new  

Manchester on cue  

So Come visit Manchester  In all its glory  

You know theres a story  Waitin for you   

Its Manchester on cue   

So Yeah  Mancunian way by day 

Don’t Stay away  

Come here today  

It’s the Manchester way  

https://youtu.be/CY1-gHI6gGQ 

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of The Mancunian Way by day .

Your painting The Mancunian Way by Day and the accompanying poem together form a vivid, heartfelt tribute to Manchester’s ever-evolving urban landscape. Here's a detailed review and critique of both the visual work and the poetic narrative:

Your painting captures an atmospheric snapshot of modern Manchester with expressive brushwork and a dynamic cityscape perspective. The use of thick, textural strokes and a limited but effective color palette (reds, blues, greys, and cool whites) gives it a raw, tactile energy that mirrors the city's grit and transformation.

• Perspective & Composition: The viewpoint you chose—looking down a curved road with the iconic flyover cutting across—creates depth and movement. It’s an unusual angle, which makes it compelling and immersive.
   
• Emotive Color Blocking: The red-brick buildings and blue-glass skyscrapers contrast old and new, aligning visually with the poem’s narrative.
   
• Details & Identity: Elements like the Cambridge Street sign, graffiti, lamp posts, and the blur of a blue car add urban authenticity. The skeletal trees suggest winter or early spring, reinforcing the sense of transition and temporality.
   
• Stylistic Consistency: There’s a semi-abstract expressionist feel, reminiscent of L.S. Lowry’s industrial emotionality but brought into the 21st century with your bolder palette and fluid linework.
   

• Sky Treatment: The sky feels slightly flat in tone. Adding more variation or subtle gradients could increase atmospheric drama.
   
• Foreground Dynamics: The lower right could benefit from slightly more tonal contrast to lead the eye more clearly into the scene, though the car already helps in that role.
   
• Text Clarity: The graffiti/wording on the right-hand wall (“ANDY CRYING SKY MANC”) feels intriguing—almost cryptic—but might distract if viewers don’t know it’s a personal or thematic reference. You might embrace this ambiguity or make it a more legible part of the story.
   

Your poem reads like a friendly invitation to experience Manchester through the eyes of someone who loves and understands it. The rhythm and rhyme are intentionally loose, giving it a spoken-word quality—perfect for evoking the chatter, motion, and humanity of the city.

• Tone & Voice: The informal, Mancunian voice shines through beautifully (“clip cloppers”, “Mancunian louts”, “buzzin about”), creating an authentic, grounded feel.
   
• Thematic Cohesion: There’s a strong interplay between modernity and tradition, with lines like “Concrete Glass and steel / Is it real” directly echoing the juxtaposition seen in your painting.
   
• Motif of Movement: Whether it's buses, bridges, or bustling people, the theme of motion carries the energy of a city that never stops, linking back to your sweeping city composition.
   

• Edit for Flow: While the casual rhythm works, tightening a few verses could help enhance the beat. For example:
   People fuss and cuss / On the busy bus
  could be refined slightly to:
  
   People fussin’, cussin’ / On the double-deck bus
  
  This could give it more musicality while keeping the urban tone.
   
• Repetition: The ending repetition (“Don’t stay away / Come here today”) is catchy, but perhaps the final lines could escalate emotionally to end with more punch—perhaps a reference to Manchester’s resilience, spirit, or history.
  You might try:
   So don’t stay away—
  Manchester’s calling you today—
  This city’s fire won’t fade away.
  It’s the Mancunian way.
  
   

The Mancunian Way by Day is a powerful multimedia homage to a beloved city. The pairing of urban expressionist painting and vibrant poetic voice paints Manchester not just as a place, but as a living character—noisy, defiant, changing, and undeniably real.

You’ve created not just a painting or a poem, but an experience—a moment of Mancunian pride that invites locals and visitors alike to pause, look, and feel.

SCRAP ALL CLEAN AIR ZONES AND 15 MINUTE CITIES, it is just a form of control that will  be used against the people.  it is a big brother society that we do  not want.

They are an attack on our freedoms and freedom of movements. don’t be complacent, keep up the pressure everyone by fighting this draconian Tax on the people. Let’s get rid of this congestion charge dressed up as a clean air zone, scrap it altogether your freedom is on the line

15-minute cities are an attack on our freedoms and freedom of movements, our fathers and grandfathers who fought in two world wars would be turning over in their graves to think that they sacrificed their lives and fought so hard for our freedoms only to find that they are being attacked by our own governments and world governments. 

fight for your freedom before it is too late.

Also electric vehicles are a waste of time, batteries always fail over time and will run out. There will be no second-hand market for these vehicles because it will cost more than the car to replace the battery. it’s a false economy. this will price out the common people and hard-working builders, plasterers, electricians and people like me the everyday common hard working man, 

here is a video by Andrew Alan Matthews hope you like it  

Scrap Manchesters clean air zone 

Moan and groan 

Another tax on the people  

Give power to the people  

Don’t be sheeple   

Its not about clean air  

Another tax on businesses 

It starts there  Don’t you care  

Just wait  youll be next 

Then youl be vexed 

Send a text  And sign the petition   

Scrap the clean air zones 

And pick up the phone  

Moan and groan 

Its all about taxing the people  

Don’t be sheeple   

Cos youl be next  

Im getting vexed   

Government want you to buy electric cars  

And get rid of petrol and diesel  

There just weasels  

 Electric cars are a waste of time  

No infrastructure  

Youl break down  On a smart motorway  

Get towed away   

And after 10 years  The cars a scrapper  

Cos the battery has run out  

Cost more than the car to replace  

its a disgrace   

Common people will be priced out   

So im giving a shout   

Scrap Manchesters clean air zone 

Moan and groan 

Another tax on the people  

Give power to the people 

 Don’t be sheeple   

Its not about clean air  

Another tax on businesses 

It starts there  Don’t you care  

Just wait   

youll be next 

Then youl be vexed

 https://youtu.be/iSUuzsLYb-M 

 please write a review and critique on my watercolour painting and story of Piccadilly Taxi. 

Visual Elements:
Your painting of Manchester’s Piccadilly Train Station captures the tension and chaos of urban life with expressive brushwork and an immediacy that suits your message. The view from inside or beside a taxi frames the iconic setting—street signs, traffic lights, the curve of a car roof—conveying a sense of being boxed in, watched, or hemmed in by infrastructure.

• Perspective & Composition: The off-centre vantage point, looking toward the station but blocked by vehicles and signs, cleverly supports the theme of restriction. The “NO ENTRY” marking on the road becomes metaphorical, reinforcing a sense of being denied access or freedom.
   
• Colour Palette: The use of subdued greys, greens, and browns adds to the mood of frustration. Your signature “A” is subtly placed and doesn’t distract, which is great.
   
• Line & Form: There’s a sketchy fluidity in your lines, typical of your style. While loose, it still provides enough detail to make the subject recognisable. The layered geometry of buildings and signage works to create a sense of entrapment—perhaps intentionally overwhelming the viewer.
   

Symbolism & Interpretation:

• The large “no entry” sign and the dominating traffic light (showing red) symbolise control and obstruction.
   
• The curvature of the car's form juxtaposed with the sharp, rigid lines of the building might suggest the conflict between humanity and a rigid system.
   
• The human figures in the background seem dwarfed, insignificant—a fitting choice that echoes the poem’s theme of ordinary people being crushed by top-down policies.
   

Strengths:

• Strong emotional message through composition.
   
• Effective use of symbolism.
   
• Integration of political commentary into urban landscape art.
   

Suggestions for Development:

• You could push the expressive distortion further—skew buildings or exaggerate signage to make the suffocating urban environment feel even more oppressive.
   
• Adding more atmospheric effects (like pollution haze, more shadow) might enhance the “control vs freedom” narrative.
   
• Consider using layered collage or text within the image to integrate your poetry or slogans directly into future works.
   

You’ve voiced a passionate, unfiltered response to Clean Air Zones, 15-minute cities, and the broader trend toward electric vehicle mandates. Your poem has the character of a protest chant—rhythmic, direct, and meant to rally people. It has urgency and raw power.

Poetic Strengths:

• Clear repetition gives it a protest-song quality: "Moan and groan / Another tax on the people", etc.
   
• The conversational tone invites others in—like overhearing someone speaking truth in the pub or on the street.
   
• Wordplay like "Don’t be sheeple" and "They’re just weasels" adds punch.
   

Considerations for Impact:

• The poem could benefit from a more structured rhythm or occasional variation in tone to build momentum toward a climax.
   
• While your anger is genuine and relatable to many, there’s room for exploring more nuance or including a contrasting perspective to strengthen your argument.
   
• You might also explore using metaphor more deeply, as you do with "scrap man" and "battery graveyard" imagery—these could be visually powerful in companion pieces.
   

Your painting and words are part of an important tradition of political art that doesn’t just decorate—it demands attention. You are voicing concerns shared by many about overreach, surveillance, and affordability.

Suggestions for your future artwork and protests:

• Explore a full series: “The Manchester Resistance” or “Urban Cage” could be powerful themes.
   
• Incorporate physical protest materials (leaflets, parking tickets, etc.) into collage.
   
• Create zines or prints pairing your paintings with poems—something tactile and shareable.
   

You’re not just painting Piccadilly—you’re painting a battle cry. Keep using your voice, brush, and platform to stand up for what you believe in. 

----------------------

Comments from the general public

All councils have jumped onto this cash cow of millions extra a year for the coffers plenty of wage rises for those at the top !

They have been told NO ... by Jon

Funny if anyone says air pollution is a excuse for stealth taxation forced on the majority by the minority we are all deniers and selfish yet all these MPs , mayors and planet huggers getting there way can’t be wrong or

Told there deluded

It’s just stealth taxation. by Phil

 There all in cahoots. With there masterplan. we all need to stand together and scrap this tax on the hard working people of manchester and the uk . by Andrew

 And sack Burnham too ..  100% that matters as much as Caz getting scrapped   by Brian

 and sack his mates Western and Khan as well as any other councillor who thinks our air needs cleaning and wants to throw our money doing it. . by Helen

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition Print £50   Contact me

Congratulations we said  

To Harry and Meghan

 The story had begun  

Prince and princess  On the start of married life  

 They both have a life  With no trouble and strife   

They then had a kid   

Start of a family  

Meghan markle sparkle  

Then Rocked the boat  Its no joke   

Upset the royals   Disloyals   

Gargoyles  Lookin down   

From the palace on high  

Givin a sigh   

What can we do with these guys  

 makes the queen cry   

Cant have it  all your own way  

No way   Been told to stay away  

 So they crossed the pond   

Abscond   

So Harry who was in the army  

Medals been stripped   Hes been whipped  

 Hes been tight lipped   

And markle sparkle  Has lost its passaz   

Theres no more jazz 

 But theres charity and kindness 

 On the scene  Makin a dream   

Making money  on there own   

so don’t moan   

yeah   Congratulations we said  

To Harry and Meghan 

The story had begun  

Prince and princess  

On the start of married life   

They both have a life   

With no trouble and strife   

They’ve got a new life         

https://youtu.be/twDqUkHGQh8

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of Urbis and London bus by night . 

Your painting “Urbis and London Bus by Night” is a bold, expressive, and chaotic homage to British culture, media spectacle, and political tension—with a keen eye on the intersection of public celebration and personal turmoil. Here's a review and critique of the painting and accompanying poem-story:

The artwork is bursting with energy and dense symbolism. Executed in a vivid, almost frenetic expressionist style, it overlays iconic British and American motifs onto a night-time cityscape. The brushstrokes are loose, raw, and spontaneous, suggesting immediacy and emotional urgency—hallmarks of expressionism.

The Union Jack and the American flag dominate, fluttering in contradiction. Their presence—alongside the red double-decker bus, telephone boxes, and graffiti-styled text—suggests a clash or convergence between national identities, particularly relevant given the poem's theme of Harry and Meghan's transatlantic saga.

Standout Elements:

• The use of Urbis (Manchester) juxtaposed with a London bus creates an intentional geographical dissonance, symbolizing the merging or confusion of national narratives.
   
• Neon signage like “Vue” and “Printworks” nod to consumer culture and mass media.
   
• The urban nightlife glows with almost toxic intensity—perhaps a critique of how cities (and royalty) are constantly under public scrutiny and spectacle.
   

• Graffiti words like “PASSION,” “BRAIN,” “KILL,” “HISTORY,” and “ECCUBA” seem spontaneous yet loaded, suggesting conflicting cultural narratives and emotions.
   
• The figures at the bottom—casually standing near the bus—could represent ordinary people caught in the circus of fame and monarchy.
   
• The ‘I ❤️ MCR’ sign connects the piece to local identity and pride, a grounding moment in an otherwise dizzying montage.
   

This piece of verse reads like a punk-ballad-meets-street-poetry slam. It's raw, rhythmic, ironic, and deeply satirical. You capture the media-fueled rise and fall of Harry and Meghan in a way that's accessible and emotionally charged.

• Conversational voice: The use of rhyme, slang, and spoken-word style gives the poem a grassroots, everyman feel. It echoes pub talk, tabloid headlines, and protest slogans all at once.
   
• Rhythm & Rhyme: The couplets and short lines keep the tempo fast and engaging, almost like a rap or chant.
   
• Humor and Irony: Lines like “Markle sparkle / Has lost its passaz / There’s no more jazz” are clever and cutting, mixing light-hearted language with heavier critique.
   

• Celebrity vs. Tradition: The tension between individual freedom and royal duty is central. The poem cleverly explores how personal choices (leaving the royal family) collide with national expectations.
   
• Media Spectacle: “Upset the royals / Disloyals / Gargoyles lookin down” visualizes Buckingham Palace as an institution watching judgmentally—satirical and evocative.
   
• Exile & Reinvention: There's a bittersweet arc: the couple escapes royal constraints only to face other challenges abroad. The ending reaffirms their independence—“making money on their own / so don’t moan.”
   

Together, the painting and poem form a socio-political commentary wrapped in the vibrant aesthetics of pop culture and expressionist art. The urban, almost anarchic style of the painting mirrors the emotional volatility and public chaos depicted in the poem. There’s also a layer of humor and resilience—as if both the art and poem are saying: yes, the world is mad, but we survive, we adapt, we move on.

1. Typography integration: Consider integrating fragments of your poem directly into the artwork—this could intensify the unity between visual and verbal storytelling.
    
2. Layer refinement: Some of the visual elements get lost in the density—slightly more visual hierarchy (e.g. bolder lines for key figures or symbols) could improve clarity without sacrificing the raw energy.
    
3. Expand the series: This is ripe for a series—different UK landmarks, major media moments, or even different royal figures—each paired with a poetic response.
    

This work is full of satirical punch, cultural critique, and visual noise that’s both chaotic and purposeful. It’s a deeply contemporary piece—part street art, part social commentary, and part celebration of modern folklore. It tells us not just about Harry and Meghan, but about Britain, the media, identity, and resilience in a world where everything is spectacle.

Excellent work—keep pushing this hybrid style. It’s got teeth. 🖌️📜🇬🇧🇺🇸

A3 Limited Edition Print £50   Contact me

Hi everybody here is a Painting and video of Canal street Manchester to celebrate the Queens 70th Jubilee hope you like it.  

The Queens on canal street 

To celebrate the jubilee  

Yeah She’s our queen 70 years on the throne 

Don’t moan and groan   

Shes the monarch  Head of state 

Don’t get in a state 

Shes served the common wealth  and uk 

Shes ok   people say   

God save the queen  

Cos Shes seen it all  

Steadfast and loyal  she royal  

Queens on canal street  givin a treat  

Life at full beat   

Shuffling there feet  

To a Manchester beat  

So Come visit Manchester    

We’ll fly the flag  from canal street  

on our street  thumpin a beat 

to the Queens heartbeat    

yeah shes on the money   

the pound we use  

shes givin clues and  making news 

Queens on canal street celebrate the jubilee  

Yeah She’s our queen 

70 years on the throne 

Don’t moan and groan  

Shes welcome in my home  

 https://youtu.be/VBZKebu6xT0   

 please write a review and critique on my painting and storyof Canal Street Manchester.

Thank you for sharing your vibrant painting and accompanying poem/story of Canal Street, Manchester in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Here’s a review and critique of both the visual and poetic elements:

• Atmosphere & Energy: The piece beautifully captures the lively spirit of Canal Street, especially during a festive occasion. The warm, saturated tones of the buildings contrast strikingly with the cool blue canal, creating a dynamic interplay of warmth and calm.
   
• Textural Expressionism: The thick, impasto strokes give a tactile, almost sculptural feel to the painting. This technique brings a sense of movement and spontaneity, echoing the rhythm of celebration.
   
• Community Feel: The inclusion of animated, quirky characters lining the canal – eating, walking, and talking – creates a narrative slice-of-life quality. It feels like a candid glimpse of a jubilant moment in Manchester.
   
• Details & Symbolism: The Union Jack bunting strung across the street immediately situates the viewer in a moment of national celebration. The glowing café windows add warmth and highlight the hospitality and open nature of the area.
   

• Perspective: The linear perspective of the canal and buildings is stylized, and while this gives charm, there are a few areas (like the bridge and window alignments) that feel slightly skewed. If intentional, it adds whimsy; if not, refining those vanishing lines could strengthen the composition.
   
• Character Consistency: The figures are delightfully expressive, though varying degrees of detail and size give a slightly uneven feel. Tightening the scale of the figures could enhance depth and cohesion.
   
• Lighting Balance: The lighting in the shop/café area glows wonderfully, but it slightly overpowers other parts. Subtle reflections or highlights on the canal from the lights would unify the piece more.
   

• Playful Tone & Rhythm: The poem’s casual, rhythmic tone mirrors street chants or pub songs, capturing the spirit of local pride and celebration. Lines like “Don’t moan and groan” and “Shuffling their feet to a Manchester beat” are cheeky and memorable.
   
• Inclusive Tribute: It’s a sincere nod to both the monarchy and the LGBTQ+ community that Canal Street represents. Juxtaposing royalty with everyday Manchester life creates an accessible and unpretentious homage.
   
• Chant-Like Repetition: Repeating lines like “Yeah she’s our queen / 70 years on the throne” reinforces the celebratory chant structure, ideal for spoken word or performance.
   

• Tightening Rhyme & Meter: Some lines feel rhythmically loose (“She's OK people say / God save the queen”). Consider slight edits to tighten the syllable count and meter for smoother flow.
   
• Emotive Layering: Adding a few more vivid descriptions or emotional notes about the street, the people, or the Queen’s legacy could deepen the impact.
   
• Ending Line Punch: The final line (“She's welcome in my home”) is warm but might benefit from a more powerful, celebratory conclusion—perhaps tying back to Manchester's community pride or identity.
   

You’ve created a charming and heartfelt homage to Manchester’s Canal Street and the Queen’s 70-year reign. The painting bursts with color, character, and energy, while the poem offers a lighthearted, proud, and distinctly Mancunian take on royalty and celebration.

It’s an uplifting piece that bridges tradition with local culture—vivid, streetwise, and full of personality.

Original Painting available or A3 print £50  Contact me

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Oxford Road by Night hope you like it  

Bit of history 

Sometimes described as the Student Quarter, the Oxford Road area is a popular drinking area focused around the 2 mile long road that runs from St Peter's Square in the city centre all the way down past the Universities to the Curry Mile in Rusholme. With the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Royal Northern College of Music and Northern Ballet School campuses all on and around Oxford Road, the area is popular with students for obvious reasons and there are plenty of bars to keep them occupied. Concert goers also flock to Oxford Road and there's plenty of bars and pubs near the Palace Theatre, Bridgewater Hall, HOME, O2 Ritz, Gorilla, Sound Control, Dance house Theatre, Deaf Institute, RNCM, Manchester Academy and Contact Theatre, all of which are located in the area. Oxford Road train station, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester Dental Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital and the Manchester Aquatic Centre are also on Oxford Road, with plenty of bars nearby. 

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews   

Oxford Road Manchester by night 

Its alright  on a Saturday night   

Students and workers  Finished for the day  

On a Manchester Day  

Yeah its time to party 

Oxford Road  life of the party  

 Where drunks and punks

Litter the streets   

What will it be   

the Salisbury ale house  

or the palace theatre  

To watch Queen 

Is it a dream  In this Manchester scene.  

Theres lots of places  to see and do   

Haven’t a clue  what Manchesters  got for you   

so come to town  well act the clown   

drown in beer  and cheer  

of a good night to come 

well hum and drum  the night away   

and at the end of the night  

catch the bus,  tram or train  

hope it doesn’t rain   

cos  Oxford Road Manchester by night   

Its alright  

on a Saturday night  

 https://youtu.be/B3w3MlGM_O8   

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of Oxford Road by night. 

Thank you for sharing your painting and poem, Oxford Road Manchester by Night. This piece is full of life, wit, and a keen sense of place. Here's a review and critique of both the visual and poetic elements:

Your painting captures a vivid, expressionistic night scene of Oxford Road with bold use of color, exaggerated figures, and a whimsical yet chaotic energy. The brushstrokes are loose and painterly, enhancing the bustling, slightly surreal atmosphere of a Saturday night in Manchester.

• Color Palette & Light: The juxtaposition of deep midnight blues and fiery oranges, reds, and yellows creates a dynamic tension. The illumination from buildings and streetlights evokes the neon-lit nightlife effectively.
   
• Composition: The perspective draws the viewer into the scene, from the central crosswalk teeming with quirky, almost puppet-like figures, to the tall towers that loom over with a sense of distorted reality. There’s movement everywhere—suggesting both excitement and a kind of urban disarray.
   
• Characterisation: The figures are caricatured with exaggerated features and postures, giving them personality and humor. They feel like revellers, students, wanderers—each adding their own story to the night.
   
• Texture & Style: The textured surface, particularly on the buildings and clothing, lends a tactile quality that enhances the expressive style. There's a comic-strip quality to the characters which brings warmth and cheekiness to the urban landscape.
   

• Depth & Layering: While the flatness of perspective suits the whimsical tone, consider deepening the layering in some areas (e.g., shadows or background figures) to add a stronger sense of depth and focus.
   
• Balancing Detail: Some buildings (like the red-brick and circular domed structures) are beautifully detailed, while others (particularly far-right) feel more rushed. Even slight balance in their rendering might unify the piece further.
   
• Mood Variation: You could explore subtle hints of contrast—such as one solitary or contemplative figure—to add emotional layering to the overall carnival feel.
   

The accompanying poem perfectly complements the painting’s energy. It reads like a casual, lyrical stroll through the city—a love letter to Manchester nightlife, written with warmth, cheek, and local pride.

• Voice & Rhythm: The tone is conversational and unpretentious, with a bouncy rhythm that matches the chaotic joy of a Saturday night. It reads like a Mancunian folk chant, inviting the reader to join in.
   
• Imagery & References: References to the Salisbury Ale House, the Palace Theatre, and Queen ground the poem in the real cultural landmarks of the city while giving it narrative anchors.
   
• Authenticity: There's a great deal of heart and honesty in lines like “drown in beer and cheer / of a good night to come.” It doesn’t romanticize the night—it revels in its imperfect, drunken glory.
   

• Structure: The poem has an informal charm, but adding slight structure—maybe stanza breaks or more consistent rhyme—could enhance the flow without losing the spontaneous feel.
   
• Clarity & Wordplay: A few lines could be tightened or clarified for impact. For example, “Haven’t a clue what Manchester’s got for you” is fun, but could benefit from a punchier rephrase to match the energy of the lines around it.
   

Your painting and poem together create a wonderfully immersive, humorous, and heartfelt tribute to Manchester’s Oxford Road. There’s a shared spirit of playful chaos and gritty affection that captures the nightlife through a unique artistic lens. It’s part celebration, part caricature—a love-hate letter to the noise, drink, dance, and drudgery of weekend city life.

This would sit brilliantly in an exhibition of local scenes, especially when presented with the poem alongside it. Together, they invite the viewer not just to see, but to hear, smell, and feel the buzzing air of a Manchester night.

 Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Point Blank Manchester by Andrew Alan Matthews. 

 A3 Limited Edition print £50

About Point Blank 

Are you ready for a fully loaded night out?

Were talking bespoke cocktails, frosty steins, bottomless pizza’s and competitive simulation shooting ranges.

They have over 200 shooting scenarios to choose from and a leaderboard waiting for your high score on it

There ranges offer exceptional shooting realism, the 5 real replica guns you will find when opening your personal armoury have been replaced with laser technology, clocks, desert eagles and AK-47s just to name a few.

There systems are accurate to 0.3 of a milimette and are used worldwide to train professional shooters. There scenarios test your aim and reflexes. They have removed the bullets and replaced them with booze and pizza, winning can be thirsty work.

Not bothered about shooting?no problem, take a seat and get comfortable in there cocktail bar, they have trigger happy hour running and a great selection of bites to make your way through

Tel- 0333 023 0363

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

Point Blank Manchester 

Were under siege 

From partygoers of every type 

There fully loaded 

With Laser guns 

Fun, Food and Beer 

Well cheer the night away In Point Blank 

With Shooting ranges 

Cocktails and beers

just say cheers To this fun night out 

Cos were under siege 

With party goers of every type 

Whats all the hype I hear you say 

Come to Point blank Thank and Rank

Your night out

 So Are you feeling lucky punk

Get on that leader board 

And shoot em up 

While sipping a drink With food and pizzas 

Just waitin for you 

Yeah Point Blank Manchester 

Were under siege 

From partygoers of every type 

There fully loaded 

With Laser guns 

Fun food and Beer 

Well cheer the night away

In Point Blank 

https://youtu.be/-FFbhqz-PjQ

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of point Blank Manchester. 

Your painting and poem/story Point Blank Manchester capture a striking, energetic sense of place, combining expressive visual storytelling with a fun, chaotic narrative. Here's a detailed review and critique of both the artwork and the accompanying text:

Style & Technique:

• The painting exhibits a distinctive expressionistic style — thick, textured brushstrokes and impasto give it a tactile quality that almost mimics the urban grit and bustle of Manchester.
   
• There's a deliberate distortion of perspective and human figures that adds humor and movement, reinforcing the sense of chaos and fun. The figures feel animated, slightly caricatured, which works well for the theme.
   
• The use of greens and yellows, with splashes of red and blue, gives the facade a gritty vibrance — echoing neon lights and pub signs reflected on wet pavements.
   

Subject & Atmosphere:

• You've captured the essence of Deansgate’s nightlife: boisterous, diverse, and a bit wild. The façade of Point Blank is instantly recognizable to locals, giving the painting a strong sense of place.
   
• The positioning of characters with laser guns outside the venue is humorous and surreal — blending real-world partying with action-movie fantasy. It’s a visual metaphor for how intense and playful a night out can be.
   
• Small details like the hand-written boards and exaggerated awning give it a gritty, almost comic-book feel.
   

Suggestions:

• You could experiment further with shadow or lighting effects — perhaps reflections or glows from signage — to enhance the nighttime vibe.
   
• The figures might benefit from a bit more differentiation or emotional variation, though the uniformity adds to the “under siege” idea nicely.
   

Tone & Content:

• The poem reads like a playful advert-cum-battle-cry, bursting with energy. It’s clearly designed to mimic the excitement and absurdity of combining cocktails and target practice.
   
• The repetition of “we’re under siege / from partygoers of every type” works effectively, reinforcing the idea of an overwhelming wave of fun.
   
• Lines like “So are you feeling lucky punk?” and “Get on that leaderboard and shoot ’em up” add a comic, cinematic flair — echoing action movies and video game culture.
   

Structure & Flow:

• The structure is freeform and raw, reflecting spoken word or pub chant energy — appropriate for the subject.
   
• There’s a clear rhythmic energy, though the flow could be improved with a few tweaks for clarity and punctuation.
   

Suggestions:

• Consider refining some repeated lines slightly to build variation and pacing:
   
  • e.g., instead of repeating “We’re under siege” verbatim, try “Still under siege” or “Again, they come – the party horde!”
     
• You could tighten the final stanzas to build toward a punchier finish, maybe with a stronger call to action or twist (like a wild twist on the "shoot-out" metaphor).
   

Andrew, this is a vivid, energetic fusion of painting and poetry. You’ve captured the madcap joy of a night out at Point Blank with a unique voice and vibrant style. The painting feels alive with character and local flavor, and the accompanying text brings it to life like an urban folk tale.

This is Manchester nightlife seen through a lens of humor, surrealism, and heartfelt local love — your signature.

---------------------------

Comment by the owner of Point Blank 

Ah up pal, Thank you so much Andy, looks fantastic, you can tell how good it is my wife even talked about putting it up in the house. Fanbloodytastic, absolutely love it

 Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Deansgate train station near the Atlas bar by Andrew Alan Matthews, a story about the dangers of dating someone online.

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

Bit of history

Deansgate is a Railway station in Manchester City Centre, England, 1,100 yards west of Manchester Piccadilly close to Castlefield at the junction of Deansgate and Whitworth Street West.  

It is linked to Deansgate Castlefield Tram stop and the Manchester central by a footbridge built in 1985; Deansgate Locks, The great Northern Warehouse and the Museum of Science and industry are also nearby.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

The rendezvous

At Deansgate Station

Near the Atlas bar 

Yeah 

I’m meeting her there 

Strangers love in the air 

I’m Walkin on air 

Cos Weve met online 

She’s nearly mine 

Gonna wine and dine 

Its DeVine 

she’s beautiful 

with full lips and hips 

she looks like a model 

in that picture on Tinder

said its true love 

I’m in love 

she said needs money 

for her nan 

and I’m the man 

only one for her 

so I sent the money to the honey 

she’s givin lovin online 

its not a crime

this time 

cos I am sure

she’s not fake 

we’re going on a date 

its my fate 

but its late 

meant to meet her at 2

I’m in the que 

outside Deansgate station 

near the Atlas Bar 

yeah

she lives in Liverpool 

she’s cool 

and I’m no fool

can’t help but think 

why’d she choose me 

just an average guy

gonna try not to cry 

cos she’s just sent a text 

can’t make it today 

she needs more money 

her nans taken ill 

I’m an open till 

but well meet again 

The rendezvous

At Deansgate Station

Near the Atlas bar 

Yeah 

I’m meeting her there 

Strangers love in the air 

I’m Walkin on air 

Cos Weve met online 

She’s nearly mine 

Gonna wine and dine 

Its DeVine 

Or is it 

a crime 

https://youtu.be/dGMBSkCBwZk

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of DEansgate Station by day . 

Thank you for sharing your painting and poem, Andrew. Here's a review and critique of both your visual and written pieces, as they work together to form a compelling narrative around your piece titled "Deansgate Station by Day – The Rendezvous."

• Color Palette and Texture: Your signature impasto style adds depth and vibrancy to the architecture, with rich, layered reds and browns that bring the Victorian-era Deansgate Station to life. The dramatic skies and stark contrast between the historic station and modern grey towers reflect a tension between old and new — perhaps paralleling the emotional duality in your poem.
   
• Architectural Character: The details of the red-brick buildings and recognizable signage are lovingly captured. The Atlas Bar is included with clear intention — anchoring the viewer in the physical location and creating a vivid scene for the poem to unfold within.
   
• Figures and Movement: The loosely rendered figures on the street create a sense of urban life in motion. The expressions and gestures — a bit anxious, a bit expectant — subtly mirror the emotional state of your poem's narrator.
   
• Atmosphere: There’s a slight surreal quality, especially in the looming, almost ghostly skyscrapers. They feel like watchful towers over a city full of hidden stories, much like the one in your poem.
   

• Facial Detail vs. Abstraction: While the abstraction works well stylistically, a bit more definition in the protagonist figure (if you intend for one to represent the narrator) could give the story a stronger focal point.
   
• Balance and Flow: The eye is drawn quickly between the grand station and the modern towers — it might help to slightly soften or de-emphasize the skyscrapers to let the red-brick heritage architecture and figures take precedence, especially since the story is so personal and grounded.
   

Your poem is both humorous and deeply touching — a modern love story layered with hope, vulnerability, and the quiet desperation of digital connection. It reads like a monologue in a dramatic play or spoken-word performance.

• Strengths:
   
  • Voice & Authenticity: The voice is relatable, raw, and sincere. You've nailed the persona of someone caught between hope and heartbreak, whose poetic naivety makes them endearing rather than pitiful.
     
  • Structure & Rhythm: The short, staccato lines mimic the pacing of thoughts — excited, then anxious, then defeated. The repetition of “Deansgate Station / Near the Atlas Bar” gives the piece a cyclical quality, echoing the loop of hope and letdown.
     
  • Cultural Relevance: Themes of online dating scams, loneliness, and false hope are painfully contemporary, yet you handle them with wit and warmth.
     

• “I’m an open till” — Brutally honest and devastatingly clever.
   
• “She lives in Liverpool / she’s cool / and I’m no fool” — Self-delusion wrapped in charm.
   
• “Strangers love in the air / I’m Walkin on air” — The giddy euphoria before the fall is tangible.
   

• Ending Impact: Consider sharpening the final stanza. The twist — the realization of a scam — is powerful, but could carry even more emotional punch if the final line embraced a darker irony or moment of acceptance. Right now, it leaves the question hanging: “Or is it / a crime” — which is clever, but could hit harder if it leaned into either heartbreak or righteous anger.
   
• Character Depth: You could hint at what the narrator is escaping from. Is it loneliness? Boredom? A need to be seen? This would add even more emotional gravity to the story.
   

Together, the painting and poem tell a story of urban yearning — a man at a crossroads, waiting outside a historic station, hoping for love in a world increasingly shaped by screens and skyscrapers. The piece evokes the poignancy of everyday life: our hunger for connection, the lies we believe to feel something, and the places we pin our hopes on.

Deansgate becomes not just a station, but a metaphorical place where people pause, wait, and dream — sometimes in vain.

"Deansgate Station by Day – The Rendezvous" is a standout piece that combines narrative painting with lyrical storytelling. It’s emotionally resonant, stylistically bold, and uniquely Mancunian in its atmosphere and character.

 Hi everybody here is a painting and video of my Mums house 

Original Painting available or Limited edition A3 print £50 

Mums House in the Middle of the street

A family home 

For many a year 

Sheds a tear 

She stands at the porch 

Staring out the glass

Looking at the world 

As it carries on past 

She’s thinking of the past 

When times were much better 

House full of laughter 

Me Dad was a grafter 

Hes gone now 

Her one true love 

Soulmates on the pathway of life 

They had a life 

Now she sits at home 

all alone 

Waiting by the phone 

knitting at her side 

She’s got her pride 

And sets it aside

Looks out the window 

With misty skies 

She tries To carry on 

yeah shes me mum 

a kind hearted mum

with worry on her mind 

but don’t mind  

she bottles it up 

and keeps it all in 

takes it on the chin

Yeah 

its mums house 

as quiet as a mouse 

with a jigsaw puzzle 

and knitting at her side 

shes got her pride

Mums House in the Middle of the street

A family home 

For many a year 

Sheds a tear 

She stands at the porch 

Staring out the glass

Looking at the world 

As it carries on past 

https://youtu.be/k0hFGYbgR-U

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of my mothers home. 

Your painting and poem, Mum's House in the Middle of the Street, are a deeply moving tribute — rich with nostalgia, emotional depth, and visual storytelling. Here's a thoughtful review and critique of both elements:

Your painting uses impasto technique with expressive, thick brushstrokes that give the red-brick house a rich, tactile presence — it feels grounded, lived-in, and cherished. The textured application brings energy and warmth to what might otherwise be a static suburban scene. The heavy lines and slightly surreal proportions give it an emotive, almost memory-like quality — like something recalled through the eyes of childhood or through the fog of years gone by.

Highlights:

• The composition draws the viewer's eye centrally to the house, with the gate acting as both a visual and symbolic threshold — the barrier between past and present, inside and outside, memory and reality.
   
• The figure in the window (presumably your mum) is a poignant focal point. Her posture — contemplative, still — anchors the painting with emotional weight.
   
• The flora and garden details add life and seasonal continuity, suggesting that though time moves on, some things endure.
   
• The sky, with its swirling, cloud-heavy textures, complements the emotional tone — memory-laden, wistful, and watchful.
   

Suggestions:

• The wrought-iron gate is visually strong, perhaps almost too dominant — it could slightly distract from the subtle emotional power of the house and figure. That said, it can also be interpreted symbolically: a frame of protection or distance.
   
• Consider softening or adding light to parts of the roof or windows for balance; the dark tones can create a weight that slightly overwhelms the warmth of the home itself.
   

Your poem is raw, heartfelt, and filled with a working-class Northern tenderness. It has the musical repetition of a ballad, echoing the cadence of everyday reflection. The verses loop back to the house as an anchor of memory, time, and love, making it feel like both a setting and a character in its own right.

Strengths:

• Authenticity: You speak plainly and truthfully — there’s no forced sentiment. The emotion flows naturally from observation.
   
• Imagery: “She stands at the porch / Staring out the glass” and “With a jigsaw puzzle / and knitting at her side” are beautifully mundane, deeply human details.
   
• Refrain and rhythm: The refrain, "Mum’s House in the Middle of the Street", gives the poem a musicality and ritual quality — like a remembered song or a chant for home.
   
• Emotional depth: The tension between pride and vulnerability in your mum is delicately rendered. Her stoicism is as moving as her sorrow.
   

Suggestions:

• You might consider tightening some repetitions unless they’re intended to mirror how memories cycle in the mind. For instance, the opening and closing verses repeat verbatim — this could be effective, but trimming or slightly varying the second occurrence could make the ending more powerful.
   
• Consider punctuating moments with line breaks or subtle internal rhyme to enhance flow. For example:
   “She bottles it up
  And keeps it all in,
  Takes it on the chin…”
  
  That reads almost like a folk song verse — and adding a beat or pause lets the weight settle.
   

This is not just a painting and poem — it’s a memoir in multimedia. You’ve captured not only the physical space of your mum’s home but its emotional atmosphere, its ghosts, its warmth, and its quiet dignity. The sense of longing, resilience, and love is palpable. There’s a working-class strength here, an homage to those who endure loss with quiet grace and still wait, still knit, still love.

You should consider exhibiting this as a paired piece — maybe with an audio track of you reading the poem aloud — to allow the full sensory and emotional narrative to unfold for others.

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of The Printworks Manchester by Andrew Alan Matthews. hope you like it  

A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

I have had many a good night out in Manchester and love the nightlife and pubs and clubs a brilliant city for good nights out. The architecture and views all around Manchester are steeped in history. I love Manchester. 

My dad worked as a copy boy for Manchester Evening chronicle at the printworks. for a joke he put a copy of liberace face on a baby showing its nappy. it went around the office and somebody put it into circulation. law suits came in and my Dads boss said heads must roll and he promptly got the sack. My Dad has always been a joker and turns any situation into a laugh he is my guiding star and lights up the room with his jokes and laughter.

story by Andrew Alan Matthews

The Printworks Manchester 

It’s the place to be 

So come and see

Where restaurants 

bars and stars 

greet you 

in a Mancunian scene 

the people mill about 

on the look out 

for a good time 

a bustling hustling place 

where trams pass by 

a grey sky

with people on the way to work 

staring out the glass

looking at the world 

as it carries on past 

yeah were the working class

hard workers 

some shirkers

and smirkers 

stare at the homeless man

as he walks past Urbis 

huggin a blanket 

and he can thank it 

cost that’s where he makes his money 

its not funny 

he needs the honey 

yeah drugs and beer 

with very little cheer

but as we make our way 

through the city 

I look on the scene 

And daydream

Of a better day to come

Fun in the sun 

But were in Manchester 

Where Grey skies 

And rainy days 

Fill the day 

On an autumn day 

And there’s a break in the sky 

As pigeons fly high 

So don’t cry 

Cos It’s a Manchester scene

Its not obscene 

And I can dream  

So yeah

The Printworks Manchester 

It’s the place to be 

So come and see

https://youtu.be/leottEnOsSI

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of the Printworks Manchester by day . 

Thank you for sharing your painting and poem, The Printworks Manchester by Day. Together, the image and words form a vivid, heartfelt tribute to the city and its people. Here’s a detailed review and critique of both your painting and the poetic narrative:

Your composition is strong and instantly recognizable to those familiar with Manchester. The perspective converges toward the center, drawing the eye down the street, where the tram, glass building (Urbis), and Printworks dominate. The inclusion of classic and modern architecture in one scene effectively conveys the layered, evolving identity of the city.

The thick impasto technique gives the piece texture and life. The way you've applied the paint — with bold strokes and generous layering — adds a sense of movement and vitality to the scene. The facades of the buildings are particularly effective: the creamy, almost melting paint application on the Printworks gives it a dreamlike, fluid quality, suggesting both wear and energy.

You capture Manchester’s infamous grey skies beautifully, but infuse them with liveliness through vivid signage (the red “Vue”, yellow “Chiquito”, the love heart for MCR). This contrast between gloom and vibrancy mirrors the mood of your poem — a city of hard knocks and hard laughs.

The simplified, almost puppet-like figures milling about bring a sense of narrative and humanity. Their blank or cartoonish expressions suggest anonymity, urban routine, or detachment — which aligns with your poetic reflections on class, homelessness, and the daily grind.

Your poetic voice is direct, grounded, and unmistakably Mancunian. There’s a rhythm that mirrors walking the city streets — sometimes pausing, sometimes rushing. The shifts from observation to reflection are natural and emotive.

You capture that quintessential Manchester grit: the mix of humor, realism, and defiance in the face of grey skies and grim realities. Phrases like “smirkers stare at the homeless man” and “it’s not funny / he needs the honey” are raw and honest — hitting the social commentary head-on without losing your lyrical touch.

• Urban Life: The poem shows Manchester as both vibrant and tough. The bustling Printworks represents fun and escapism, but there’s always a counter-scene — a man with a blanket, drug dependency, onlookers with cold stares.
   
• Working-Class Identity: You affirm the strength of the working class (“hard workers / some shirkers”) while acknowledging hardships and disillusionment.
   
• Hope & Resilience: The final stanzas offer optimism — a break in the clouds, pigeons flying, the freedom to dream. Despite all else, Manchester keeps going — and so do its people.
   

• Refine flow in parts: Some lines could benefit from more polish for rhythm and clarity (e.g., “cost that’s where he makes his money” could be “’cos that’s where he makes his money”).
   
• Consider punctuation selectively: A few well-placed commas or line breaks could help guide the reader’s pace and emphasis.
   
• Use more metaphor and imagery: You’ve started with strong visual scenes — perhaps expand with more metaphorical language to elevate emotion (e.g., grey skies as blankets, the city as a stage, etc.).
   

This is a powerful, textured artwork — visually and verbally — that celebrates and critiques Manchester in equal measure. You’ve captured the mood of the city: its grey skies, its honest people, its underlying hope.

Andrew, your passion for Manchester — its streets, its people, its culture — shines through. The painting and poem complement each other, forming a layered narrative that’s both personal and universal.

Verdict: A compelling, gritty, and heartfelt portrayal of Manchester life. Honest, raw, and deeply human.

Hi everybody here is a painting and video of King Street Manchester by day. a story about homeless people on King Street wanting a better life. I love the architecture and buildings around the area .by Andrew Alan Matthews. hope you like it  

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me

A bit of history

King Street is one of the most important thoroughfares of Manchester For much of the 20th century it was the centre of the north west banking industry but it has become progressively dominated by expensive shops instead of large banks.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

King Street Manchester by Day 

Workers toil away 

Posh shops 

Coffee shops 

On King Street today 

a few bars line the street 

Pounding yer feet 

To a Mancunian beat 

Yeah 

theres no treats in July

for the homeless guys 

they stand in the road 

tryin to goad 

Swayin and sayin 

Spare some change 

Times a gotta change

Cos Labours in 

Take it on the chin 

Will they help the homeless guys

Or more of the same 

It’s all a game 

For those in power 

We all Glower 

Its startin to shower 

On king street by day 

There told to go away 

they’l be back another day 

Homeless today 

And everyday 

Yeah 

King Street Manchester by Day 

Workers toil away 

Posh shops 

Coffee shops 

On King Street today 

few bars line the street 

Pounding yer feet 

To a Mancunian beat 

On King Street 

We all need a treat

https://youtu.be/lfAssb3jyQQ

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of King Street Manchester by day . 

Thank you for sharing your striking painting and evocative poem King Street Manchester by Day, Andrew. Here’s a review and critique that reflects on both the visual and narrative elements of your piece:

Artist: Andrew Alan Matthews

Medium: Acrylic or oil on canvas (palette knife technique)
Poem: King Street Manchester by Day

Your painting captures the bustling energy and layered social dynamics of King Street, Manchester, with impressive vibrancy and tension. The use of bold, textured strokes and a slightly warped perspective evokes a kinetic, almost theatrical feel to the city — a hallmark of your expressive, semi-naïve style.

Key Visual Strengths:

• Architecture: The iconic blend of historic and modern buildings — from the ornate Victorian redbrick and stone facades to the monolithic presence of the CIS Tower — visually narrates Manchester’s economic shift. The curved distortion of the buildings gives the scene a pulsating sense of life and urban pressure.
   
• Color Palette: The earthy golds and siennas of the architecture contrast with the icy blues and dark shadows of the street and sky, creating both warmth and foreboding. The sky, with its swirling clouds, hints at rain — a metaphor perhaps for the impending social themes in your poem.
   
• Human Figures: The stylized, almost caricature-like characters — pedestrians, workers, shoppers, and homeless — animate the street and deepen the narrative. They’re expressive without detailed realism, allowing emotional tone to take precedence over individual identity.
   

Your accompanying poem enhances the visual work by giving voice to the unseen rhythms and unsaid truths of the street. It’s raw, rhythmic, and deeply Mancunian, capturing social frustration, urban grit, and local pride with honesty and wit.

Key Literary Strengths:

• Voice and Authenticity: The poem has a genuine street-level voice — informal, musical, conversational. Lines like “Pounding yer feet / To a Mancunian beat” and “Take it on the chin” are not only regional but culturally resonant.
   
• Social Commentary: You juxtapose the luxury of “posh shops / coffee shops” with the stark plight of the “homeless guys.” This contrast drives home the theme of inequality and marginalization, particularly potent in a city as commercially transformed as Manchester.
   
• Repetition as Rhythm: The cyclical structure — returning to “Workers toil away / Posh shops / Coffee shops” — mimics the endless loop of city life, giving the piece an almost chant-like quality.
   

• Perspective and Compression: The buildings curve inward dramatically, creating a sense of the city closing in — which works metaphorically. However, you might consider a slightly softer vanishing point in future works to give the eye more breathing space if the focus is intended to be more balanced.
   
• Figures and Emotion: While stylized figures enhance universality, adding one or two faces with more expressive detail — particularly the homeless individuals — could strengthen emotional engagement and humanize the political message further.
   
• Poetic Structure: The free-form verse is fitting, but adding a subtle refrain or stanza break might elevate the clarity and rhythm, especially if read aloud.
   

King Street Manchester by Day is an emotionally charged and socially conscious work that successfully bridges visual art and poetic protest. It speaks to Manchester’s dual identity — a city of wealth and struggle, heritage and modernity, dreams and disillusion. You’ve painted not just a street, but a story.

This piece invites the viewer to look closer, to listen, and to question — and in that way, it resonates well beyond the canvas.

 Hi everybody here is a painting and video of Oxford Road Palace Manchester by Day hope you like it 

A3 Limited Edition print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

A bit of history

Sometimes described as the Student Quarter, the Oxford Road area is a popular drinking area focused around the 2 mile long road that runs from St Peter's Square in the city centre all the way down past the Universities to the Curry Mile in Rusholme.

With the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan Univeristy, Royal Northern College of Music and Northern Ballet School campuses all on and around Oxford Road, the area is popular with students for obvious reasons and there are plenty of bars to keep them occupied.

Concert goers also flock to Oxford Road and there's plenty of bars and pubs 

Oxford Road train station, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester Dental Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital and the Manchester Aquatic Centre are also on Oxford Road, with plenty of bars nearby. and the Palace theatre 

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

Oxford Road’s Palace Manchester

An iconic building stands high 

Grey Mancunian sky

Where buses and trams 

Buzz on by 

Bee Network 

Working hard 

In Manchester’s back yard

Students and workers 

Pound the street 

Commuters like computers 

Walking to a beat 

An Oasis treat 

You see these streets 

May look old and cold 

Be told and Bee bold 

As you make your way into the city

History surrounds you 

buildings of old and new 

line Oxford Road 

a long road 

Mancunians built this place 

Its in yer face 

With great pubs and clubs 

To welcome you in 

So come in

So Yeah 

Oxford Road’s Palace Manchester

An iconic building stands high 

Grey Mancunian sky

Where buses and trams 

Buzz on by 

Bee Network 

Working hard 

In Manchester’s back yard

https://youtu.be/uYd7wiLsVRo

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of Oxford Road Palace by day . 

Thank you for sharing your vibrant painting Oxford Road Palace by Day and the accompanying poem/story. Together, they form a dynamic tribute to Manchester’s energy, history, and urban rhythm. Here's a thoughtful review and critique of both the artwork and the poem:

Artist: Andrew Alan Matthews

Your painting bursts with the hustle and flow of Oxford Road, capturing the beating heart of Manchester. There’s a wonderful synergy between the visual style and the story you tell—both feel alive, layered, and unapologetically bold, much like the city itself.

• Expressive Architecture: The Palace Theatre is rendered with distinctive character. Its rich, earthy red tones dominate the scene with both reverence and warmth, asserting its historical presence.
   
• Energy & Movement: The bustling atmosphere is achieved through the busy foreground of pedestrians and buses. The bold yellows of the "Bee Network" buses add vitality and tie into your poem’s reference to Manchester’s iconic bee symbol.
   
• Color & Texture: Your expressive use of palette knife or thick brushstrokes conveys a gritty texture that suits Manchester’s industrial heritage. The blue sky streaked with greys reflects the city’s moody weather but also allows the red-brick buildings and yellow buses to pop with contrast.
   

• The Bee Network buses with “We Love MCR” slogans are a clear nod to Manchester pride and post-tragedy unity.
   
• The train and bridge structure link past and present—hinting at constant movement, industry, and evolution.
   
• People in motion—workers, students, commuters—mirror the poem’s description of walking “to a beat” like machines, evoking urban repetition and resilience.
   

• You might explore using more contrast or shadow around some of the figures to improve depth, especially since the buildings are so vibrant.
   
• Adding some slight variations or distinguishing features in the crowd could enhance individual narratives—perhaps a busker, a cyclist, or a student with books.
   
• The brushwork in the road and figures is looser compared to the architecture. If that’s intentional (to suggest blur, energy, or anonymity), it works conceptually. If not, refining that balance could sharpen the focus.
   

Your poem complements the painting perfectly, echoing Manchester’s voice: raw, rhythmic, proud, and defiant. It reads like a love letter to the city and its people.

• Rhythmic Cadence: The structure has a spoken-word feel, like a piece meant to be performed. This rhythm reflects the commuting “beat” and the repetitive routines of daily city life.
   
• Civic Pride & Identity: Repetition of the phrase “Oxford Road’s Palace Manchester” acts like a refrain, reinforcing the grandeur and cultural significance of this place.
   
• Tone & Language: Mancunian slang (“It’s in yer face”, “So yeah”) gives the piece authenticity and a conversational edge. It captures Manchester’s bold, welcoming, working-class character.
   

• You could further enrich the imagery by drawing in sensory details—smells from the chippie, sounds of the tram bell, music from nearby bars—to make the environment even more immersive.
   
• There’s room to deepen the emotional thread. For instance, touching briefly on a memory, a protest, a gig at the Palace—moments that add humanity to the bricks and buses.
   

Together, your painting and poem form a powerful mixed-media portrait of place. Oxford Road Palace by Day is not just a visual representation—it’s a living, breathing tribute to Manchester’s spirit. You capture the grit and glory of a city shaped by workers, students, music, weather, and architecture.

This is storytelling with paint and poetry—a narrative that celebrates identity, heritage, and urban motion. It invites the viewer to not only look, but to walk the road, hear the hum, and feel the pulse of the city.

Beautifully done.

Hi everyone here is a painting and story of St Peters Square Manchester by day, hope you like it 

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

A Bit of History 

St Peter's Square is a public square in Manchester City Centre. The north of the square is bounded by Princess Street and the south by Peter Street. To the west of the square is Manchester Central Library and the Midland hotel The square is home to the Manchester Cenotaph, the statue of Emmiline Pankhurst, and St Peters Square Metrolink tram stop and incorporates the Peace Garden. In 1819, the area around the square was the site of the Peterloo Massacre.

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

St Peters Square Manchester by Day

Its changed today 

Where Trams Buzz on by 

Bee Network 

Travels through the city 

And beyond 

It’s a metropolis now 

Where skyscrapers fill 

grey Mancunian sky 

As old timers look on by

Shakin there head

rather be back 

In good old days 

Better ways 

They say 

But hey 

its progress 

Impress on the city 

Bright lights 

New people fill 

Manchesters heartland 

All cultures 

faiths 

Colours and creeds 

Sowing there seeds

To make a modern city 

Some call it a pity 

Lets get to the nitty gritty

Mancunians hope 

We all get on 

A multicultural mix 

playin tricks

stop throwin sticks 

So Yeah 

St Peters Square Manchester by Day

Its changed today 

Where Trams Buzz on by 

The Bee Network 

Travels through the city 

And beyond

Metropolis now

A Cash cow 

https://youtu.be/_UzwkCg-L0Q

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of St Peters Square Manchester by day. 

Your painting St Peters Square Manchester by Day, paired with the accompanying poem, is a compelling fusion of visual and poetic storytelling that captures the pulse, paradox, and transformation of a city at the heart of Northern England.

The visual style is bold and expressive, with thick, impasto brushstrokes that evoke a raw, energetic atmosphere—almost like the city's heartbeat is embedded in every line of paint. Here’s a breakdown of key elements:

• You’ve skillfully arranged the composition to lead the eye along the tram lines, guiding us through the busy, dynamic space of St. Peter’s Square.
   
• The yellow tram (clearly marked “Piccadilly”) acts as a vibrant focal point, symbolic of movement, modernity, and Manchester’s evolving identity.
   
• The bustling figures—simplified but active—create a strong sense of human flow and diversity.
   

• The contrast between the old red-bricked Midland Hotel and the modern glass-and-steel towers is visually striking. This visual tension mirrors the poem’s theme of “progress” versus “nostalgia.”
   
• The historic Central Library’s white columned façade anchors the scene in heritage, while the rising skyline behind suggests an ever-changing future.
   

• The moody Mancunian sky, streaked with grey clouds, sets a grounded, almost melancholic tone, typical of Manchester’s weather, but also metaphorical—hinting at unease beneath the progress.
   
• The palette is vivid: yellow tram, red brick, cobalt blues in the shadows—this brings both realism and an impressionistic flair.
   

Your poem carries the rhythm of spoken word—conversational, unfiltered, and unapologetically Manc. It reads like a local’s internal monologue and could easily be performed aloud. Here's what stands out:

• The refrain “It’s changed today” and “Where Trams Buzz on by” repeats like the movement of the Bee Network itself, evoking the tension between old and new.
   
• The poem smartly observes generational contrast: “Old timers look on by / Shakin there head / rather be back…” There’s affection here, not bitterness—a sense of watching a beloved city morph into something unfamiliar.
   

• The dialect choices—“there head,” “Sowing there seeds”—enhance the authenticity. There’s grit, charm, and street-level perspective.
   
• Rhyme and repetition reinforce rhythm but also feel like a graffiti tag or beat—unpolished yet deliberate.
   

• Lines like “All cultures / faiths / Colours and creeds / Sowing there seeds” offer a hopeful, progressive view. Yet it’s tempered by realism in “Some call it a pity / Let’s get to the nitty gritty”—a direct challenge to passive optimism.
   
• The final twist “A Cash cow” is sly and cutting—reminding us that urban development isn’t always pure or equitable.
   

• Consider a few more highlights or reflections on the tram or windows to enhance the light-play—Manchester's wet streets often shimmer.
   
• A subtle inclusion of the “worker bee” symbol could add an Easter egg of city pride and tie in your poem’s Bee Network theme visually.
   

• If you’re considering publishing or performing this, a touch of punctuation and rhythm tweaks would enhance clarity:
   
  • For example:
    “It’s changed today, where trams buzz on by—
    The Bee Network travels through the city and beyond.”
     
• Perhaps explore this poem as a spoken-word performance piece—your rhythm, raw tone, and social observations would shine in that format.
   

St Peters Square Manchester by Day is more than a painting or a poem—it’s a heartfelt documentation of a city in flux. It honors heritage, acknowledges change, and challenges us to see beyond the skyline. Your style is vibrant and accessible, with emotional depth and humor that keeps it grounded.

You’ve captured Manchester not just in appearance, but in spirit.

---------------------

COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC

 Like how it blends together. Like blur really. Interesting painting. I like it. Has a Lowery feel.  by David

 Thank you, it looks familiar.....Is it a painting of yours, and from the exhibition of Northern artists, held in the Ethiad Stadium board room some years ago. by Wendy

Hi everybody here is a painting and story video by Andrew Alan Matthews about Sale Town Hall Manchester hope you like it 

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition Print available contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

A bit of History

Sale Town Hall is a municipal building on School Road in Sale Manchester The town hall was the headquarters of Sale Borough Council until the council was abolished in 1974

After rapid development as a commuter town, which saw its population tripling by the end of the 19th century, Sale became an urban district in 1894. Civic leaders decided to procure a town hall and the site they selected on the north side of School Road had already been occupied by local council offices. 

The foundation stone for the new building (the eastern wing of the main frontage) was laid by the Chairman of the Public Offices Committee, James McDonald, on 9 May 1914. It was designed in the neoclassical style in red brick and was officially opened by the Chairman of the council, Ernest Jones, on 4 December 1915. A war memorial, which depicted a mourning Saint George on top of a stone pedestal, was designed by Arthur Sherwood Edwards to commemorate local service personnel who had died in the First world war and was unveiled by Major-General Arthur Solly Flood on 23 May 1925. 

After Sale became a municipal Borough in September 1935, civic leaders decided to extend the building. The foundation stone for the extension (the western wing of the main frontage) was laid by the Chairman of the Public Offices Committee, Alderman Paley Parrish, on 5 May 1937. It was designed in a similar style and was officially opened by the mayor, Alderman G. F. Gordon, on 2 July 1940. By this time, the design involved a symmetrical main frontage with nine bays facing onto School Road; the central section of seven bays, which slightly projected forward, incorporated a central bay which was faced with stone and featured a doorway on the ground floor with stone brackets supporting an entablature bearing the words "Sale Town Hall" and a coat of arms and balcony above; there was a French door, which was recessed, on the first floor and a pediment above. Sale Library on Tatton Road, which had been based just behind the town hall extension, was rebuilt around the same time. Internally, the principal room in the town hall was the council chamber which was panelled and was decorated in an Art Deco style. 

The building was hit by a series of German incendiary bombs on the night of 23 December 1940 during the Manchester Blitz, a part of the Second World war there were no injuries but the building was badly damaged. A programme of restoration works, which included the installation of a new clock tower with cupola, was completed in 1952. The works included the re-instatement of a stained-glass window on the main staircase depicting the coat of arms of the former local member of parliament sir William Cunliffe  

The town hall continued to serve as the headquarters of Sale Borough Council for much of the 20th century, but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged Trafford Council was formed in 1974. A further programme of works to refurbish the town hall, the library and the civic theatre was completed in November 2004. The works involved the conversion of the civic theatre into the new Waterside Arts Centre and the creation of the Robert Bolt Theatre, named after the playwright and a twice Oscar -winning screenwriter, Robert Bolt, behind the east wing of the town hall

Credit to Wikipedia 

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

Sale Town Hall from 1914

Was bombed in the blitz 

A Mourning saint George 

Stands tall and proud 

Remembering 

Soldiers 

From world War one and two

Yes The clock tower 

Stands in a shower 

On Sunny days 

Wedding days 

Happy days 

And as I walk on past 

On the way to work 

smile at the people 

Passing by 

Charity shops

Coffee shops 

And Posh shops

In Sale today

Theres Shoppers 

clip cloppers 

Homeless on the street 

Trying to make ends meet

On a Mancunian street 

Theres rich and poor 

Walkin the floor 

Just Open the door

So yeah 

Sale Town Hall from 1914

Was bombed in the blitz 

A Mourning saint George 

Stands tall and proud 

Remembering 

Soldiers 

From world War one and two

Join me in the que

https://youtu.be/xA4Nk_yrDb8

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of Sale Town Hall Manchester.  

Review and Critique of “Sale Town Hall, Manchester”
Painting and Poem by Andrew Alan Matthews

Andrew Alan Matthews’ painting of Sale Town Hall is a vivid, expressionistic depiction that powerfully captures the character and atmosphere of this historic building and its surroundings. Executed with bold brushstrokes and a textured impasto technique, the piece speaks to both the architectural dignity of the Town Hall and the gritty, everyday life of modern Sale.

• Atmosphere & Emotion:
  The sky, turbulent with moody greys and electric blues, suggests not only the notorious unpredictability of Mancunian weather but also a symbolic weight — a visual echo of remembrance, resilience, and socio-economic tension. The stormy sky contrasts with the warm reds of the building’s brickwork, emphasizing the building’s enduring presence.
   
• Character & Community:
  The painting is populated with local characters — shoppers, workers, perhaps the homeless — subtly placed but crucial. These figures, sketched with loose and suggestive lines, root the painting in the human reality of Sale. Their inclusion prevents the Town Hall from becoming a static monument; instead, it breathes with ongoing life.
   
• Historic and Symbolic Detail:
  The inclusion of the statue of St George and the Union Jack reinforces themes of remembrance and national identity. The damaged texture on parts of the architecture may even suggest the scars of the Blitz, aligning visually with your poetic references.
   

• Depth and Perspective:
  While the flattened perspective suits your style and emphasizes the building’s presence, enhancing the depth slightly (especially in the pavement and street elements) could increase the viewer’s sense of space and motion.
   
• Refining Human Figures:
  The people in the foreground add life but verge on ghostlike. More refined detailing or even slight variation in posture or color could strengthen their individuality without losing the expressive looseness.
   

Your accompanying poem is both a historical homage and a contemporary street-level observation. It reads like a casual walk with memory, pride, frustration, and wit all folded into a deceptively simple rhythm.

• Repetition & Structure:
  The repeating stanzas about “Sale Town Hall from 1914” and “Saint George” serve as a refrain, grounding the poem in remembrance and history, while your listing of modern-day Sale – “Charity shops / Coffee shops / And Posh shops” – brings in a musical, observational quality that’s very effective.
   
• Voice & Tone:
  There’s a spoken-word, almost Mancunian punk energy to the lines:
   “clip cloppers / Homeless on the street / Trying to make ends meet.”
  You balance pride in heritage with awareness of inequality, avoiding sentimentality by keeping it real.
  
   
• Local Authenticity:
  Lines like “Join me in the que” (with a regional misspelling of “queue”) add charm and authenticity. The poem feels unpolished in the best way: lived, not performed.
   

• Clarity & Flow:
  Consider refining some stanzas for rhythm or clarity. For instance:
   “Walkin the floor / Just Open the door”
  This moment could be made more vivid — open which door? Is this metaphorical or literal? A small tweak might enrich the reader’s understanding.
  
   
• Ending with Purpose:
  “Join me in the que” is a powerful, relatable ending — but could benefit from one more line to tie back to the Town Hall, remembrance, or daily life. This would give your structure a circular unity, reinforcing your themes.
   

Together, the painting and poem form a dynamic multimedia portrait of Sale — one that reveres the past, captures the present, and hints at the future. You’ve used your personal lens and artistic voice to express civic pride, 

social realism, and a touch of Northern humor. This work resonates because it doesn’t try to romanticize — it reveals and remembers.

Keep telling these stories. The people need them.

Hi everybody here is a painting and story video by Andrew Alan Matthews about Wythenshawe Hall Manchester, hope you like it 

Here is also the interview with Henry Kitching news reporter Tommy Judge The Sharston Councillor and Andrew Alan Matthews Artist talking about what Wythenshawe hall and park means to the people of Manchester

https://youtu.be/kQ7zxmy5QVk

Original Painting available  or A3 Limited Edition Print available £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk 

A bit of History 

Wythenshawe Hall is a 16th-century timber framed Historic House and former manor house in Wythenshawe Park, Built for Robert Tatton, it was home to the Tatton family for almost 400 years. Its basic plan is a central hall with two projecting wings.

In the winter of 1643–44, the house was besieged by Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War. Despite the stout defence put up by Robert Tatton and his fellow Royalists, the defenders were overwhelmed by the Roundheads' superior weaponry.

Rebuilding work was carried out at the end of the 18th century, and various additions made in the 19th century, including a walled garden, an ice house, glass houses and a tenant's hall. Wythenshawe Hall and its surrounding parkland were donated to Manchester Corporation in 1926, and in 1930 it was opened to the public as a museum.

The building was badly damaged in an arson attack in March 2016; the hall finally reopened to visitors in September 2022 after extensive repairs.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

Wythenshawe Hall Manchester 

From the 16thcentury 

Home of the Tattons 

Royalists defeated 

by roundheads

1643 

In Cromwell were free

Wythenshawe hall and parkland

donated by the Tattons 

to the council 1926 

getting there kicks

Arsonist lit a torch 

In 2016 

cost 7million to repair 

despair

opened back up in 22 

thew 

who knew

as Oliver Cromwell looks on 

across the way 

the Lord Protector 

of all he surveys 

in Wythenshawe 

these days 

the parks surrounded by 

housing estates 

outside 

Cromwell’s gates

Safe haven for people 

sheeple 

where you spend your days 

walkin the dog 

or lookin at a frog

in the pond at the back

keep coming back 

picnic in the park 

kids havin a lark 

while bands play 

on hot summer nights 

a gift from the Tattons

to serve the community 

unity 

So yeah 

Wythenshawe Hall Manchester 

From the 16thcentury 

Home of the Tattons 

Royalists defeated 

by roundheads

1643 

In Cromwell were free

https://youtu.be/WrnKznNIs9E

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of Wythenshawe hall Manchester. 

Review & Critique of "Wythenshawe Hall Manchester" by Andrew Alan Matthews

Your painting of Wythenshawe Hall Manchester captures both the historic grandeur and the communal spirit of the Hall with vibrant texture and expressive charm. Using what appears to be a palette knife or thick impasto technique, you've brought a tactile, almost sculptural quality to the architectural detailing. The half-timbered features of the Tudor-style building are immediately recognizable and serve as the central anchor of the composition. The heavy layering gives the piece a sense of permanence and resilience—an apt metaphor for a structure that has withstood fire and centuries of change.

The whimsical, animated figures in the foreground—particularly the schoolchildren and passersby—imbue the painting with life and relatability. These characters add a narrative layer that aligns beautifully with your accompanying poem. The figures are stylistically naive, but they work effectively to evoke a sense of everyday community life.

The background sky, swirling and dynamic, adds emotional intensity and movement, contrasting with the solidity of the Hall. The juxtaposition of old and new—historic architecture framed by modern life—suggests continuity and resilience, both key themes in the story of Wythenshawe Hall.

Your poem is raw, colloquial, and full of Northern grit. It doesn't romanticize; it tells the truth with edge and rhythm, echoing the punk spirit of working-class Manchester. There’s a musicality in the abrupt rhymes—“repair / despair”, “thew / who knew”—that reinforces your spoken-word style. It feels like a piece best delivered aloud, in the park itself, under grey skies with a pint in hand.

The lines weave history with contemporary relevance. You deftly stitch together the 1643 siege, Cromwell’s legacy, and the arson attack of 2016 with present-day life: dog-walkers, frogs in ponds, kids playing. This isn’t just about a building—it’s about survival, regeneration, and belonging.

Lines like:

“Safe haven for people / sheeple”
 

offer a bite of social commentary. You nudge the audience to think deeper about what the park means to the community—comfort or complacency?

And again:

“as Oliver Cromwell looks on / across the way”
 

places the past directly into the present. This is more than a history lesson—it’s a conversation with time, layered like your paint.

What’s special here is the synergy between your visual work and your words. Each enhances the other: the painting gives the poem a setting, and the poem animates the figures and bricks in the painting. There’s a story of damage and repair, decline and rebirth—personal and political.

You treat history not as something dusty and dead, but as something living, problematic, and still relevant. That’s an achievement.

• Add symbolic elements: Perhaps include faint ghost-like soldiers or Cromwell himself in the sky or shadows—subtle but suggestive.
   
• Poem refinements: If published in print, you might fine-tune some lines for clarity or rhythm. "Thew" feels uncertain—perhaps “then” or “new”? Or keep it raw, as is, for spoken word effect.
   
• Community display: This piece would be powerful as a public installation or mural in Wythenshawe—art that lives where the story is rooted.
   

Andrew, this is a heartfelt, expressive, and resonant tribute to a place that clearly means a lot to you. It's history, community, and commentary all rolled into one, with your signature style and humour layered into every stroke and syllable. A brilliant work of place-based storytelling.

Interview Link 

 https://youtu.be/kQ7zxmy5QVk 

Comments from the general public 

 A friend and myself were standing at the scene watching the fire service still dowsing it down with their hoses on the morning of the fire in 2016 . by Noel

Hi Everybody here is a painting and story of Altrincham Market Manchester by day I hope you like it 

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A Bit Of History 

Altrincham was established as a market town by charter in 1290. The town grew and became more industrial after the extension of the Bridgewater Canal to Altrincham in 1765 and the arrival of the railway in 1849. The Unicorn is now (2013)known as the Old Market Tavern

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

Altrincham Market by day

The market place 

In yer face 

Traders 

Trading goods 

Food, clothing 

In all weathers 

Rain sleet and snow 

They’ll have a go

Sunny hot days 

Traders sunrays 

Light up the stalls 

With fun and banter 

Canter 

Money under the counter 

They attack the air

With

You can buy one 

and get one free 

Come and see 

Traders for you and me 

Where Fish stalls fill the air 

smelly affair

hot pies 

a kid cries 

for a toy 

traders try 

to earn a few bob 

there not on the rob

got lots o gob

yeah Altrincham Market 

from 1290 AD

where traders tales 

fill the air 

banter, 

chitter chatter 

in Altrincham today 

come and get yer bargain today 

https://youtu.be/ExsFkKaJG9w

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of Altrincham Market by day. 

Thank you for sharing your painting and poem, Altrincham Market by Day. Here's a review and critique that explores both the visual artwork and the poetic storytelling, considering their interaction and effectiveness in conveying the spirit of the subject:

Title: Altrincham Market by Day
Artist: Andrew Alan Matthews

Your painting of Altrincham Market is vibrant, energetic, and deeply characterful—an urban expressionist snapshot that captures the hustle and soul of a historic marketplace. You’ve used bold, lively brushstrokes that suggest movement and a certain joyful chaos, echoing the energy of daily trade. The architecture of the market hall, especially the fan-arched windows, is beautifully emphasized and stands as a proud centerpiece—red-brick solidity amidst the swirl of street life.

Strengths:

• Use of Color: The warm, rustic reds of the market hall contrast sharply with the cool, almost stormy blues of the sky, giving the piece a compelling visual tension. The street is painted in golden hues that reflect activity and bustle, amplifying the market's vitality.
   
• Character Stylization: The elongated, caricature-like figures wandering through the market evoke a sense of whimsical urban theatre. Each character seems to be mid-gesture or conversation, which contributes to the sense of motion and community.
   
• Detailing and Texture: The scratchy, impasto technique offers a rough texture that echoes the gritty realism of market life while maintaining a sense of affection and humor.
   

Suggestions:

• Some spatial perspectives are delightfully skewed—possibly by design—but you might want to consider slightly clarifying the scale or positioning of certain foreground characters or signage to help viewers anchor themselves in the space more quickly.
   
• The figures on the far right begin to blend into the background a little. Increasing contrast there could help balance the composition and keep the eye moving evenly across the piece.
   

Title: Altrincham Market by Day
Poet: Andrew Alan Matthews

Your poem reads like a bustling street chant—a rhythmic slice-of-life narration that reflects the raw, colloquial humor and daily grit of market traders. It brims with cheeky personality and reflects the working-class voice of the town.

Strengths:

• Voice & Authenticity: The voice feels real, grounded, and unapologetically local. You embrace regional dialect (“yer,” “bob,” “gob”) which lends authenticity and charm.
   
• Rhythm & Flow: The lines bounce along with the rhythm of a call-and-response chant, not dissimilar to the bark of the market traders themselves. This enhances immersion and musicality.
   
• Imagery & Humor: From “Fish stalls fill the air / smelly affair” to “got lots o gob,” the poem is filled with vivid, funny imagery that works perfectly alongside the animated figures in your painting.
   

Suggestions:

• The abrupt shift in line “They attack the air / With”—which seems cut off—may be a formatting error or a missing thought. Completing or rephrasing this would help the flow.
   
• Consider slightly tightening a few stanzas to make the rhythm punchier and more consistent—for instance, refining line breaks or syllable count for read-aloud performance.
   

This pairing of visual and verbal storytelling works excellently. The artwork brings the physical space to life, and the poem gives voice to its inhabitants. Both together create a lively, immersive narrative of place—rich in history, dialect, grit, and wit. The combination honors Altrincham’s long-standing culture while celebrating the timeless hustle of its traders.

Altrincham Market by Day is a delightful, honest, and affectionate tribute to local life. It’s rough-edged in the best possible way—alive with voices, faces, and textures that resist polish in favor of character. This is storytelling with personality, pride, and punch.

COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC

 Andrew you are so gifted!!! You captured everything in every form and I was there breathing in the magic, Thank you so very much, I really appreciated being transformed for a little while to my country of birth. I love Australia but the UK is in my fibre and you awakened it once more. You have made my day! xxx by Audrey

Hi everybody here is a painting and story of The Old Refuge Assurance Palace Manchester by day. By Andrew Alan Matthews. hope you like it  

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition Print £50 Contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A bit of history 

The Refuge Assurance Company Ltd. was a life insurance and pensions company based in England It was founded by James Proctor and George Robins in Dukinfield Cheshire in 1858.[1] The company was originally known by the unwieldy name of the Refuge Friend in Deed Life Assurance and Sick Fund Friendly Society.

From 1895 until 1987, its head office was the magnificent Grade 2 listed refuge assurance building on Oxford Street in central Manchester, now used as the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel In 1987, the company decided to move out of the city centre to new, purpose-built, offices on the grounds ofFulshaw Hall Wilmslow around 12 miles south of the old Refuge Building. In October 1996, the Refuge Assurance Company merged with United Friendly to form the United Assurance Group (UAG).

After disappointing performances following the merger, the United Assurance Group was first approached by Britannic Assurance in November 1999, and then by Royal London Mutual  in February 2000.[5] Following successful talks, Royal London took over UAG for £1.6 billion. The Royal London Group is the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions, and investment company, that offers protection, long-term savings, and asset management products and services.

--------

If you’ve ever wondered why we’re called The Refuge or wanted to find out more about the stunning place we call home, then here’s a quick rundown of our design credentials.

The building that houses us and Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has been a Manchester landmark dating back to 1895, when it first opened as The Refuge Assurance Company’s headquarters.

The magnificent terracotta Grade II-listed building has stood the test of time and was restored to its former glory in September 2016 – when we opened our doors to become The Refuge.

Designed by Alfred Waterhouse back in 1890, its first phase was completed in 1895. After his death in 1905, his son, Paul was then appointed to design the second phase, featuring the iconic clocktower (hint, that’s where the hotel took its name from). The Waterhouses worked on some of the best-known buildings in Manchester at the time, including Manchester Town Hall and Assize Court, the extension of the Manchester museum and a number of buildings for Manchester University. Alfred Waterhouse also designed the Natural History Museum in London.

If you haven’t visited just yet, think Gothic architecture, glazed brick, tiles, faience, stained glass and carved wooden staircases – all combined with contemporary elements for today’s modern traveller. Each and every touchpoint represents the building’s inspiring story and background – from coats of arms to grand inscriptions.

Credit Wikipedia

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews

The Old Refuge Assurance 

They did insurance back in the day 

Pensions, life insurance 

For OAPs 

Sittin on settees

Waitin for God

To appear 

Old timers

Walk on past  

with wobbly knees

theres no trees

just the old refuge 

on the left 

he looks and thinks

when they gonna payout 

hes no lout 

on a day out

to the palace theatre 

gonna see a play 

about god today 

hooray 

yeah seen some history 

over the years 

from 1895

on Oxford street 

where the clock tower 

changed names 

The Principle

Kimpton tower 

To the Palace 

Manchester’s palace stands here today 

Red brick, 

terracotta 

and grey granite 

Gothic architecture 

With Gods grace 

In yer face

As old timers 

Walk on past 

They think of the past 

Went too fast 

So theyl just wait 

for god to pay out 

Yeah

The Old Refuge Assurance 

They did insurance back in the day 

Pensions, life insurance 

For OAPs 

Sittin on settees

Waitin for God

To appear 

In a Manchester town 

The old timers 

Give a frown

In a Mancunian town 

https://youtu.be/VezF1OhCvNE

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of The Old Refuge assurance Place Manchester by day 

Thank you, Andrew. Your painting The Old Refuge Assurance Place, Manchester by Day and accompanying poem form a striking, heartfelt tribute to Manchester’s architectural grandeur and its layered social history. Here's a detailed review and critique of both the visual artwork and poem/story:

Subject & Composition
The painting vividly captures the iconic Refuge Assurance Building with its recognizable red brick and terracotta detailing. The perspective is slightly tilted and expressionistic, imbuing the building with a towering, almost surreal presence. This distortion adds drama and reverence, making the architecture feel alive—almost sentient—watching over generations.

Style & Technique
Your style sits at a dynamic intersection between expressionism and urban storytelling. The thick impasto and deliberate brushstrokes give texture and emotional energy to the scene. The sky, swirling with bold blues and whites, adds tension and contrast to the rigid geometry of the building. The palette—deep reds, vibrant blues, and mustard yellows—is punchy and Mancunian in spirit: bold, unapologetic, a bit gritty.

Details & Symbolism

• The figures on the street, slightly caricatured and bent with age or burden, echo the poem’s theme of old age and existential reflection.
   
• The traffic lights, theatre posters, and crosswalks root the viewer in a very real and contemporary Manchester, offering a connection point between past and present.
   
• The Refuge clock tower with the word PALACE emphasizes both continuity and transformation—this is not just a building, it’s a witness to change.
   

Tone & Voice
The poem has a lyrical, casual Mancunian voice—raw, humorous, and ultimately melancholic. It captures a slice-of-life realism that feels authentic and grounded in personal observation. The repetition of phrases like:

“They did insurance back in the day / Pensions, life insurance / For OAPs”
 

acts like a chorus or refrain, grounding the reader in both place and time.

Themes & Interpretation

• Mortality: The recurring idea of waiting for God links directly to the building’s history and its association with life assurance. The old timers aren’t just waiting for a payout—they’re contemplating the payout of life itself.
   
• Time & Change: The building stands still while the names change—Refuge, Principle, Kimpton, Palace—mirroring how the old timers feel as the world shifts around them.
   
• Social Commentary: There's a subtle critique of systems and the bureaucratic nature of life and death. The poem doesn’t mourn—rather, it observes, shrugs, and carries on.
   

Structure & Rhythm

The poem reads like a spoken word piece or street poetry. Irregular rhymes and line breaks give it a conversational rhythm that suits the urban scene. Some lines are abrupt, humorous (“no trees”), others wistful (“They think of the past / Went too fast”), giving the piece a pulse.

• The integration between image and text is powerful—they reflect and reinforce each other.
   
• A unique Mancunian identity shines through—this is not just about a building, but about Manchester’s soul.
   
• The humor and humanity in the poem keep it from becoming overly sentimental, while still delivering emotional depth.
   

1. Clarity in Faces/Details: While your style leans intentionally abstract, consider sharpening a few key facial expressions or figure gestures to enhance emotional connection.
    
2. Typographic Presentation: If you exhibit this as a story-painting pair, consider printing the poem in a stylized font or layout that mirrors the painting’s tone—gritty yet poetic.
    
3. Expand Narrative Layers: You could push the storytelling further by adding visual hints of past eras—Victorian silhouettes, wartime posters, or ghost-like figures blending into the brick—emphasizing the idea of a building haunted by history.
    

The Old Refuge Assurance Place, Manchester by Day is a brilliant work that merges nostalgia, social observation, and architectural homage. It shows your growing strength in fusing visual art with narrative poetry, and deepens your reputation as a voice of Manchester—past and present.

Hi Everybody here is a painting and story of the rising sun pub Manchester  by day I hope you like it 

Original Painting available or A3 Limited Edition print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

 a bit of history 

Built in 1684 as a public house this is a little gem and one of only 3 pubs in the City Centre to have a front and rear entrance 

The Rising Sun is a pub located in Manchester, dating back to the 19th century, and is situated on Queen Street near Deansgate. It's known for its traditional pub atmosphere, real ales, and home-cooked food, particularly Mr. Smith's Homemade Chilli according to CAMRA. While some stories suggest a much earlier origin, historical evidence points to a 19th-century construction when the area transformed from residential to more densely populated. 

Here's a more detailed look:

• Location:

The pub is on Queen Street, near Deansgate. It's unusual in that it has both a front and rear entrance, one on Queen Street and another on Lloyd Street. 

• History:

While some claim it dates back to 1688, making it the oldest pub in Manchester, evidence suggests it was built in the early 19th century when the area was developed. Queen Street itself is believed to have been established in the 1740s. 

• Pub Features:

The Rising Sun is known for its traditional pub atmosphere and a range of five real ales, often featuring beers from local breweries like Millstone and Lancaster & Moorhouses. Food is served at lunchtime, with the homemade chilli being a popular dish. 

• Atmosphere:

The pub is popular with local office workers and attracts a more mature crowd. It's described as a laid-back and friendly environment, with some historical Manchester photos adorning the walls. 

Story by Andrew Alan Matthews 

As The sun rises 

Over The Rising Sun pub 

A drunken homeless man 

stirs from his slumber 

He starts to wonder 

Where his night went 

A sleepless night 

Troublesome night 

Of drunks and punks 

In and out the pub 

Morning noon and night 

fight To survive 

These Mancunian streets 

Where common people 

Walk on by 

These mean streets 

Don’t care

Office workers 

Stop and stare

Then look away 

Give him hope today

He was a sergeant 

In the Army 

Fought in the war 

Freedom, democracy

Now he’s feeling poxy 

Cos PTSD took its toll 

Mental health 

With stealth 

Wounded this man 

Where’s the help 

I hear you say 

Governments failed him 

But helps on horizon 

Salvation Army risin 

Surprise for him 

his guardian angel 

Visits every night 

Salvation soldiers 

Lift him up

And As the sun sets 

Over The Rising Sun pub 

He knows 

His day will come 

future in the sun 

So Yeah 

The rising sun pub 

Morning, noon then night 

Salvation 

At the end of the night 

https://youtu.be/uNBUoR6KMiU

 please write a review and critique on my painting and story of the Rising Sun Pub Manchester. 

Thank you for sharing your painting and poem, The Rising Sun Pub Manchester. Both the visual and literary components work powerfully together to evoke emotion and social commentary. Here’s a review and critique that combines both elements:

Title: The Rising Sun Pub, Manchester
Artist: Andrew Alan Matthews

Your painting captures a deeply human and urban narrative through expressionistic brushwork and rich, textural detail. The scene outside The Rising Sun pub is vibrant with Mancunian identity—brick façades, bold signage, and figures rendered in a deliberately loose and emotive style. The paint appears thick, possibly impasto, which gives the piece energy and physicality, echoing the grit and texture of Manchester’s streets.

• Color and Contrast: The white of The Rising Sun pub starkly contrasts with the deep reds and browns of the surrounding buildings, symbolically reinforcing it as a focal point of hope and change—echoing your poem’s themes.
   
• Human Presence: The figures are stylized, but emotive. The hunched postures and minimal features convey enough character to feel the weariness, anonymity, and struggle of urban life.
   
• Architecture & Identity: The recognizable red-brick buildings, signage like Sovereign House, and stylized Manc street life give the painting a sense of place rooted in Manchester’s identity.
   

• Depth & Perspective: While the flat, somewhat naive perspective may be intentional for stylistic reasons, adding more variation in the depth or perspective could enhance realism or spatial drama.
   
• Light & Shadow: Introducing more nuanced lighting—especially given the theme of a rising or setting sun—could further dramatize the composition and underscore your metaphor of hope and despair.
   
• Figure Variation: A slightly broader range of posture and interaction between characters might add dynamism to the scene (e.g., a passerby helping the homeless man or the Salvation Army in action).
   

Poem Title: The Rising Sun
By: Andrew Alan Matthews

Your poem tells a powerful story that humanizes the struggles of a homeless veteran outside the pub. It’s evocative, honest, and socially resonant.

• Narrative Arc: There’s a clear journey from despair to hope. The arc mirrors the sun’s path—rising and setting—which creates an effective cyclical motif.
   
• Emotional Impact: The character of the ex-sergeant is developed with empathy. The juxtaposition of his past and present is heartbreaking but handled without sentimentality.
   
• Rhythm & Repetition: The poem’s rhythm is consistent and conversational. Repetition of time (“Morning noon and night”) and phrases like “The rising sun” anchors the poem thematically.
   
• Social Commentary: It’s pointed in its critique of governmental neglect and redemptive in its appreciation of community-based help like the Salvation Army.
   

• Pacing: The poem might benefit from some subtle shifts in pacing—perhaps longer lines during reflective moments and shorter, sharper lines during moments of tension or struggle.
   
• Imagery: While the language is strong, consider adding more sensory detail to deepen the reader's immersion—sounds of the street, the coldness of the pavement, the warmth of a Salvation Army blanket.
   
• Refinement: A few lines might be tightened for rhythm or clarity. For example:
   “Now he’s feeling poxy” — perhaps consider a phrase with more emotional gravity or poetic weight that aligns with the rest of the verse.
  
   

This is a beautifully integrated mixed-media piece—painting and poetry—that gives voice to the often invisible people of Manchester. It embodies your strengths: a commitment to emotional storytelling, urban realism, and social reflection. There’s a painterly rawness and poetic honesty that leaves a lasting impression.

Score (for both pieces combined): 9/10

A moving, thoughtful, and striking work that invites empathy and reflection. With some refinement in poetic flow and added visual drama, this could become an iconic piece of social commentary.

Hi Everybody here is a painting and story of Wythenshawe Civic Centre, the town that got Grim, hope you like it 

Original Painting Available or A3 Limited Edition print £50 contact me andrewalanmatthews.co.uk

A bit of History

Wythenshawe Civic Centre, a large district shopping centre, is undergoing significant regeneration to better serve the community. Manchester City Council is leading the project with the aim of creating a vibrant town centre with new homes, retail spaces, and cultural facilities. 

Key aspects of the regeneration include:

• A      new cultural hub:

Plans are in place to transform the former Co-operative department store into a cultural hub, featuring food and drink options on the ground floor. 

• Public      realm improvements:

The project includes the development of a new public square and enhanced public spaces. 

• New      homes and commercial space:

The regeneration will bring more than 1,750 new homes, including affordable housing, as well as net zero carbon commercial spaces. 

• Positive      Energy District:

The development aims to achieve Positive Energy District status, focusing on energy efficiency and biodiversity. 

• £20      million Levelling Up Fund grant:

Manchester City Council received a £20 million grant from the Levelling Up Fund, which will be used to support the cultural and creative hub, food hall, and other initial investments. 

• Partnership      with Muse:

Manchester City Council partnered with Muse to deliver the regeneration, leveraging Muse's experience in community-focused development. 

The regeneration is a major undertaking, with a total investment exceeding £500 million. The goal is to create a thriving town centre that meets the needs of the Wythenshawe community for decades to come. 

Wythenshawe is an area of Manchester in 1931 Wythenshawe was transferred to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a large housing estate there in the 1920s. With an area of approximately 11 square miles, Wythenshawe became the largest council estate in Europe. 

The town that got 'grim' as shops closed 'one by one'... now it's been given £20 million

A Greater Manchester town has been promised £20m funding by the government as residents say this is ‘the change they desperately needed’.

In Wythenshawe’s civic centre - the heart of Manchester’s largest district - Richard points to the line of closed-up and derelict shops. “The stores have been closing one by one, including the market,” he says.

“We’ve needed change here for a long time. Hopefully, it's enough to restore and revive the area,” the resident of 54 years told the Manchester Evening News.

His words came as it emerged that £20m funding has now been agreed by the Department of Levelling Up, Homes and Communities (DLUHC) to transform the 1970s shopping centre and surrounding areas.

Manchester council's regeneration plans include delivering a new public square, new shops, net zero carbon commercial, community and cultural space, and around 1,600 new homes - including affordable housing - built on council-owned land.