Philip R. Westcott
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Cityscapes and Figures in oil, acrylic and watercolour

​Prices from £100- £300

My interest in figures was established in my local shopping centre at Salford. Here I found access to a variety of figures in relaxed poses. My early studies concentrated on groups of seated figures engaged in casual conversation. My immediate concern was for the intimacy of the group rather than the environment they were in. The architecture merely served as a backdrop to the characters portrayed.

I returned to the setting of shopping centres and precincts, but with a new vision. Increasingly the architecture was becoming a dominant feature of the composition and the figures almost anonymous within it. The interiors of the contemporary precinct created a different spatial relationship between figure and ground. There were various levels, heights and depths within the interior studies further enhanced by the use of reflective surfaces and the use of artificial light. The individual identity of the shop front was irrelevant to the composition. The interest lay mainly in the overall architecture. Whilst the interior structure was well documented the main concern was to create an overall impression. Within this context, the figures were no longer viewed as individual characters but almost become as one within the interior. Figures merged into crowds and receded into the distance, or in more recent work, whilst maintaining individual form, blended into the structure of the composition. The contemporary precinct was faster moving and appeared to be less of a social experience. People had less opportunity to rest, relax and communicate with each other. This was reflected in the composition and treatment of figures.

Site visits, sketches and photographs played an important preparatory role. Initial compositional studies were in watercolour and mixed media on a smaller scale. Oil studies afforded the opportunity to build up more layers of colour. Colour was applied with a dry brush to create an airy effect and so a shimmering quality which added to the sense of movement of the figures and the reflective interior surfaces. Figures were deliberately indistinct with small glimpses of detail picked out. The softness of the figures created a sense of impermanence.


As my work continued to develop, certain qualities began to dominate more fully. The architecture featured more boldly within the composition, and there was a stronger sense of the symmetry and geometry of the interior. There was more interest in individual blending into the environment, rather than the earlier crowded more panoramic views. Recent paintings featured escalators and stairways which showed the use of different levels to break up the canvas.


Salford Show early 70's. Salford Grammar School grounds. Oil painting. Collection of Salford Local History
A quiet moment. Near Saddleworth. Sold Private collection
Three men Salford Precinct. Sold Private collection
Three women one man Salford Precinct. Acrylic painting Sold Private collection
Manchester Arndale Christmas Sold Private collection
Arndale view to Market street 137cms x 91cms 54" x 36"
Watchers Manchester Arndale in the 80's 137cms x 91cms 54" x 36"
Manchester Arndale in the 70's. Oil painting 36" x 54"
Arndale stairway oil 137cms x 91cms 54" x 36"
Bolton Market place Sold Private collection
Bolton escalators. Watercolour Sold Private collection
Bury shopping centre. Watercolour Sold private collection
Fish and chips. Salford precinct in the 80's Sold Private collection
Family diner. Salford precinct in the 80's Sold Private collection
Family group. Salford precinct in the 80's Sold Private collection
What's in the bag. Salford Precinct in the 80's Sold Private collection.
Four ladies. Sold Private collection
Royal wedding street party Seedley 1 Collection of Salford Art Gallery
Royal wedding street party 2 Seedley Private collection
Market street Manchester Oil Sold Private collection.
Tell me about that goal you scored Grandad. Acrylic painting Sold Private collection.
Arndale stairway. Watercolour Sold Private collection
Children's rides. Manchester Arndale
Loving couple Salford Precinct in the 80's Sold Private collection
Youths Stockport Sold Private collection.
Shopping trolley. Salford precinct in tre 80's Private collection
Shops Stockport Sold Private collection.
Shoppers Stockport. Watercolour Sold Private collection
Caring.
Piccadilly Marathon Lancaster road Salford. Collection of Piccadilly Radio
Tired runners. Piccadilly marathon Lancaster road Salford. Collection of Piccadilly radio
Tesco bag. Salford precinct in the 80's Acrylic Private collection
Gossips. Salford precinct in the 80's
Mill gate Bury. Watercolour
Demolition Salford. Near Vere st. Oil painting. Sold Private collection
The Entry. Salford Private collection
Demolition Weaste. Salford
Old tin bath. Weaste Salford Sold Private collection.
Turner's buildings. Salford. Oil painting Sold private collection
Manchester Bombing. Oil painting. Private collection.
A nice moment. Salford precinct in the 80's. Private collection
Two men Salford precinct in the 80's Sold Private collection.
Salford Precinct in the 89's. Oil painting. Collection of Salford Art Gallery
Church Street Eccles in the 80's Acrylic. Sold Private collection.
Fish and chip lunchtime. Salford precinct in the 80's. Private collection
Resting Stockport. Oil painting Sold Private collection
iMax Manchester Sold Private collection.
Chinese gate Manchester. Sold Private collection
Wet evening Manchester Sold Private collection.
Deansgate Manchester. Oil painting sold Private collection.
Sales Manchester oil painting 30" x 20"
Deansgate Manchester 24"x18" Sold Private collection
Manchester study Deansgate. Oil painting. Sold private collection
The Orient. Trafford centre. Sold private collection.
Café. Trafford Centre
New Orleans. Trafford centre. Oil painting. Sold private collection.
Trafford Centre
Christmas Market Manchester Oil 18"x 16" Sold private collection.
Est Est Est Trafford Centre oil 18"x 16" Sold private collection
Manchester at night oil Sold private collection
Altrincham,. Acrylic painting
'Thoughtful' - Two generations showing respect #RemembranceSunday #Eccles 2019 #lestweforget Acrylic Pen and Ink Sold Private Collection
Remembrance Sunday 2019 Acrylic Pen and Ink Sold Private Collection.
A rest from Shopping Salford Precinct. Acrylic painting Sold Private collection
Pie Smoker Eccles Acrylic Pen and Ink. Sold private collection.
Gordon at the Malaga Drift Coffee house. Sold Private collection.
Three Wise Men Malaga Coffee Lounge and Bar Acrylic Pen and Ink
Chess Players Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Empty Shelves March 2020. Acrylic Pen and Ink.
Face Masks Acrylic Pen and Ink
Respect Acrylic, Pen and Ink Sold Private Collection
Queue The Range Acrylic, Pen and Ink. Sold private collection.
Waiting for the bus Eccles Acrylic Pen and Ink
Modern Day Security Eccles Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Meet up Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Butch and Sundance Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Chin Masks Acrylic, Pen and Ink
'Not more bad news' Acrylic, Pen and Ink Sold Private collection
Bury Shoppers Acrylic, Pen and Ink Sold private collection.
Peaky Bandits Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Celebrating VE Day 2020 Acrylic Pen and Ink Sold private collection
Not Distancing Monton. Acrylic, Pen and Ink Sold Private collection.
Discarded Face mask Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Visit during #covid19 Acrylic, Pen and Ink Sold private collection
Enterprising ladies Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Four Ladies Barton Place Acrylic, Pen and Ink
'Prepared' Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Coffee Break Eccles - Sold Private collection.
Hawaiian Shirts Saint Martin Acrylic, Pen and Ink
'Resting' Bury Market Acrylic Pen and Ink. Private collection
Peaky Pensioners. Acrylic, Pen and ink Sold Private Collection
Tin can busker Manchester. Acrylic Pen and ink Sold private collection.
Charity Buskers Eccles Acrylic, Pen and Ink. Sold private collection
Bernard Cromarty Acrylic Pen and Ink Sold Private collection.
Tram journey to Eccles. Acrylic Pen and Ink
'Its the small things in life' Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Resting Eccles Sold private collection
Fish and chip meal Whitby. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Haven't you forgot something! Acrylic. Pen and Ink
Ice cream break Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Fishing Acrylic, Pen and Ink
E Cig Acrylic, Pen and Ink. Sold Private collection
Park Bench Saddleworth. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Smoker Eccles Acrylic, Pen and Ink. Sold Private collection
Busker Manchester. Acrylic, Pen and ink
Buskers Manchester Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Resting family. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Art club Christmas party 2019 Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Time for a Chat Eccles. Acrylic, Pen and ink Sold private collection
Eccles Coffee Bar. Acrylic, Pen and Ink Sold Private collection.
Discussion Eccles Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Eating out Eccles. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Meet up. Acrylic, Pen and Ink. Sold private collection.
Checking the news Eccles. Acrylic, Pen and ink
"I think you've had eniugh DEAR" Acrylic Pen and Ink
Debenham's cafe Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Sales Trafford Centre Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Resignation Eccles Acrylic, pen and Ink
Meet Up Lytham Acrylic mixed media
David Coulter Acrylic mixed media Sold Private Collection.
Life's Hard. Acrylic, Pen and Ink. Sold Private collection
Glazers out. Acrylic on canvas. Sold Private collection
9 Across. Acrylic, Pen and Ink. Sold Private Collection.
Pint and Paper. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Picnic. Acrylic, Mixed media
Studying in Costa. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Meet Up. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Tired. Acrylic, Pen and ink
'Face to Face' Acrylic painting.
Nice to meet up at last. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Left in Charge Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Refreshments Heaton Park. Acrylic, Pen and Ink. Sold Private collection.
Knitter Eccles Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Reading. Acrylic, Pen and Ink.
'All his worldly possessions' Acrylic, pen and Ink.
'He Scores. The crowd go wild' Acrylic. Sold Private collection
MCR Christmas Acrylic, pen and ink.
'Feed me next' #Leigh. Acrylic, Pen and Ink SOLD private collection
Resignation. Acrylic Pen and Ink.
'Interesting conversation' Sainsburys Salford. Acrylic, Pen and Ink
Modern parent. Acrylic, pen and ink.
Time for a snack. Acrylic, pen and ink.
Resting after shopping Trafford Centre. Acrylic.
Knitting Eccles Acrylic painting.
Thoughtful. Acrylic. Sold Private collection.
'In love with' Acrylic
Studying Monton Acrylic
Eccles Bus Station. Oil on canvas. Sold Private collection.
Tram Stops Manchester Oil on canvas. Sold private collection.
Eccles Town Hall. Sold private collection
Eccles Cross Oil Sold Private collection
Undercover Lory Outlet Acrylic
Rush Hour Eccles
Winter Tram Stop #manchester Oil
Bridgewater Hall #manchester Oil
New Orleans 2 oil painting
Lowry Christmas Market Oil painting
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  • Home
  • About
    • Press cuttings and Magazine articles
    • Pictures from previous exhibitions
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  • Press cuttings and Magazine articles