The Liverpool Academy of Arts

Photographer David Graves and artist Emma Worth presented their views on the everyday moment of city life, architecture, bustling streets, different cultures etc.

This April was the one hundredth anniversary of both the launch (10th April) and sinking (15th April) of the Titanic liner by an iceberg in the north Atlantic Ocean on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.

To commemorate this we invited artists to give us their impression of this terrible event - the collision, the orchestra playing, launching the life boats, waiting to be rescued etc.

We were delighted to be able to bring you an exhibition of works by one of the most interesting Merseyside artists of the twentieth century. George, greatly influenced by the Surrealist movement of the 1930s, developed a unique style based on the surreal, drawing upon the female nude, natural creatures and landscapes to create a vision of the world which was highly personal. When surrealism went out of fashion George stuck steadfastly to his beliefs and style and the result is his legacy of wonderful works that we had to drawn on for this exhibition.

Our thanks for this go to June Furlong, George's long time friend and model, and to the Williamson Museum and its curator Colin Simpson for lending us the works for this exhibition.

The Gibson Girl, Rayon and Straw Boaters, Charleston dancing Golden Girls, the shameless pants suits of the thirties.

Teddy Boys and the flared skirts with numerous petticoats and the Givenchy 'Sack Dress', Mini skirts, Maxi skirts, flares, hot pants and punk.

The yuppie business suits of the 90's and the explosion of exercise wear and leotards ending with the big baggy look popularised by the rap musicians of the 90s.

And that's just a few of the styles they had to choose from.

An exhibition of artwork produced by ten Sefton schools with their partner schools in Chongqing in South West China funded by Sefton council and the British council.

Each school created works based on a photographic competition - “A walk round here” which took place in the schools last year. These photographs of the local environment were used as stimuli for the art work produced by the pupils whose ages range from six years to fourteen years.

George will be 102 this year and is still painting! His striking works, with their bright colours and his unique line and form give an enchanting vision of our city's unique physical heritage.

A stunning collection of work from a group of Liverpool’s emerging Art Students! The show featured drawing, installation, painting, sculpture and video art.

From various locations throughout the U.K., these Students challenge such notions as Location, Interaction, Religion and what they mean on a personal level, under the theme of ‘Relationship’.

Perhaps our most succesful exhibition yet, this was a retrospective exhibition of over 300 Oils, Watercolours and Drawings spanning Frank’s career.

Click on the image above to see some samples from the exhibition.

A student in the early 1960s, Frank had a sound art school training in Liverpool before obtaining a scholarship allowing him to explore Italy with his paints. On his return Liverpool took its hold and chalk drawings of demolition, so much a part of Liverpool in the 60s and 70s, began to form the themes and subjects that have occupied Frank to the present day.

Like a war artist Frank painstakingly recorded the destruction of, not so much the ‘great’ buildings in the city centre, but the more modest ones that had found a place in the hearts of those that used them. In Frank’s paintings you can feel genuine hurt for the demolished streets, derelict sites and lost communities.

Saint Valentine was a Roman who was killed for his faith on February 14, 269 A.D. He is associated with love because he fell in love with the daughter of his jailer, and would pass notes to her.

His final note, before he was executed, read 'from your Valentine'. From this the 14th February became associated with love and romance. Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. -

Over fifty artists, some from as far away as France and Canada, have produced a large number of new works to celebrate this and explain 'What a Valentine' means to them.

Our annual open exhibition to round off 2010 giving people the chance to buy that special Christmas present.

On show we had over one hundred and fifty works - original jewelery, paintings, sculpture etc. by seventy two artists from across the region.

This was an eclectic mix of work, created by ten artists and makers - Brian Beattie, Joyce Ellis, Peter Ellis, Hazel Gibbons, Chris Hughes, Martin Jones, Sheila Kilroy, Roy Munday,  Ally Noble and Irene Wilson.

Their work ranged from paintings to ceramics and glass art and, as can be seen from the "SPECTRUM" image above which is a collage made from a selection of their works which was used for the invitation to their exhibition. they covered a wide spectrum of techniques and styles.

Local artist Len Ehlen, well known for his show business portraits, produced a number of paintings of 'Just Lennon' with appeal to all Lennon fans. As well as realistic portraits based on photographs etc. he also produced some superb fantasy images such as "Reflection" on the left.

Gustavo Canavosio is an Argentinian artist who made his first visit to the UK for this exhibition.

"Hands to Peace" is a collection of works in which Gustovo recreated the mythical images of John and Yoko from his own hand gestures.

Our annual Open exhibition of Beatles art for 2010.

It features paintings, sculptures etc. on the theme of the Beatles, their lives philosophy and songs, by a number of mainly local artists.

This exhibition celebrated the 65th anniversary of the ending of WW II - VE day (8th May) and VJ Day (15th August).

On display were over sixty paintings and ceramics by local Merseyside artists plus various artefacts and memorabilia kindly lent to us by various local people.