Over the Mancky Way – Finding Beauty in the Everyday
Over the Mancky Way – Finding Beauty in the Everyday
This painting is called Over the Mancky Way — a play on Over the Milky Way. I painted it back in 2010, and it’s still one of those pieces that feels close to what I want my work to say. It shows the Mancunian Way flyover as you head into Manchester — a stretch of road that, on the surface, doesn’t look like much. Most people wouldn’t think of it as painting material.
But that’s exactly why I painted it.
I’ve always been drawn to the everyday — places people pass on their way to work, on the way home, or when they’re lost in thought. These are the spaces that hold real emotion, even if they’re not traditionally “pretty.” I want to take things that might seem boring or harsh and make them beautiful. There’s something powerful about finding atmosphere in the ordinary.
Over the Mancky Way was painted in an abstract expressionist style — using bold brush marks and lots of movement. It’s not a neat or quiet piece. I wanted it to feel like the noise of traffic, the rush of clouds, the tension in the skyline. If you look closely, you’ll see how the paint has been pushed and dragged across the surface. There’s texture, urgency, and colour fighting for space — a bit like Manchester itself.
It’s also a large painting, and I know that puts some people off. A lot of folks think big art won’t fit in their homes — but honestly, big work often brings a space to life. It anchors a room, gives it focus, and adds real energy. I’ve seen my larger pieces hung in everything from modern flats to period terraces, and they can completely change the feel of a room.
So if this painting speaks to you — or if you’ve ever thought about owning large artwork but weren’t sure if it would work in your space — I’d encourage you to go for it. Sometimes the boldest pieces are the ones that feel most at home.
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