A fabulous new public art exhibition entitled 'Isolation' opened at Stalybridge's Astley Cheetham Art Gallery on Saturday.

The majority of the 70-plus works on display were painted throughout lockdown by local artists - some of whom had never picked up a paintbrush before, but were inspired to do so by the situation we all found ourselves in.

But the other key theme linking all of the artists is that their lives have in some way been touched by cancer, either personally or through supporting others.

The idea for the exhibition came from Derrick Evans, the founder of the Stalybridge charity Cancer Warriors, which has its support centre in the town.

The honour of opening the exhibition fell to the Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Janet Cooper.

“During lockdown we found a lot of beauty in the places where we live that are just around the corner and it inspired a lot of creativity for all of us,” she said.

“The pandemic has had a profound effect on all of us and we have been living with it now for two years and there isn’t anyone who hasn’t been touched by the isolation.

“But there is beauty everywhere we go and the one thing I think we have come to appreciate more is where we live and how beautiful it is - the inspiration for many of the works themselves.”

Derrick's photography work on display at the exhibition 

Derrick unfortunately was unable to attend as he continues to recover from illness in hospital and the Mayor wished him a speedy recovery.

Derrick’s own photographs are only some of the pictures that now adorn the gallery’s walls in the exhibition, the others including watercolours, paintings and textile works.

An auction will be held in March when the works will be sold to raise money for Cancer Warriors.

There was a wonderful turnout from members of the public on Saturday who came to support the exhibition.

Cllr Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council’s executive member with responsibility for culture, who was also there said: “The positive effect of art and creativity on people’s health and wellbeing is well known. It is wonderful to see this work on display.

“Derrick is the inspiration behind it and he came up with the idea and we spoke about how we could bring the exhibition to the public. 

“The artists are all connected in some way to Cancer Warriors and they have all found a voice for themselves through lockdown through their art which has helped them find an understanding of what they have all been going through these last two years.

“The exhibition is the result now of these last two years and the hard work he has done with Cancer Warriors.”

Cllr Feeley added: “This is the gallery for the people of Stalybridge and we want them all to come, visit and enjoy and experience the display.

“At the end of the exhibition next March there will be an auction with the artists very generously agreeing to donate their works, and all the money raised from that auction will go to Cancer Warriors.”

Linda Yarwood (pictured below), who lives in Stalybridge, has 21 works on display in the exhibition.

She had never painted before lockdown but took up art as she recovered too from chemotherapy treatment herself at the same time, finding the new hobby therapeutic.

“Painting can help anyone through difficult times by taking us away from the moment to our own world - and anyone really can do it.

“Painting can help bring peace of mind and helps to take you away from any worries you might have and literally take you to another world.

“For me too it didn’t involve too much energy as I recovered from chemotherapy.

“I did my first one, liked it, put it on the wall and it went on from there.”

Linda is a volunteer at Cancer Warriors and is back at the centre now and says she is happy to part with all of her works to help raise funds for the charity.

Andy Leah (pictured below) from Dukinfield is another artist who has a number of impressive works on show.

“I had posted a number of my works on social media through lockdown and Derrick saw them and approached me about exhibiting some in the display.”

Andy said he had not really done any art since leaving sixth form college in 1985 and so lockdown had provided the opportunity to pick up painting again.

“I needed something to stop me spiralling down throughout lockdown and this was the answer for me.

“I got a set of watercolours and started and watched some tutorials on YouTube to get me back in the swing of things.

“I’m a keen walker and although we couldn’t travel too far in lockdown I also had some photographs of scenes I had taken.”

Andy’s favourite picture in the display is a single boat, representing solitude and providing an opportunity for observers to find their own mental space.

He says he will carry on painting now in the future too.

Malcolm Wallington (pictured below) from Ashton also has some impressive works on display.

He had got back into painting before lockdown and paints regularly, and says he enjoys painting holidays to Scarborough which he does once or twice a year.

However, lockdown of course meant that couldn’t happen, so Malc enjoyed having painting to fall back upon throughout that time.

His works include wildlife and landscapes and all will be up for sale in the auction.

Malc lost his mum to heart problems last year and his aunt - his mother’s sister - to throat cancer the year before and said when Derrick asked him to be included in the exhibition he was ‘honoured to be asked’.

“I wanted to put the works in and help raise some money for the charity and dedicate everything to my mum and aunty,” he explained. 

Larissa Doherty is the chair of the Cancer Warriors charity and thanked all of the artists for exhibiting in the display and donating their works for the cause.

She thanked everyone who attended the very well supported launch.

“We are delighted and we would encourage everyone to come and have a look at it and if there is anything they would like to buy they will be able to come back here to the gallery in March for the auction.”

She added: “The artists are modest and don’t give themselves credit for how good their works are.

“But this is something positive that has come out of Covid as well as they wouldn’t have done many of the works they have completed - so at least there is something positive for them and us all from the lockdown.”

Cancer Warriors has recently moved to open a new support centre in Melbourne Street in Stalybridge which Larrisa describes as much bigger and more welcoming and homely environment.

The centre offers diverse support for everyone touched by cancer with the services provided entirely by volunteers, with the service expanding too across the whole of Tameside.

Anyone who would like to get involved to help the centre is welcome to call in or contact the centre.

The exhibition at the gallery, which is situated upstairs in Stalybridge Library, Trinity Street, continues until Saturday, March 5. Admission to the gallery is free.

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