Homecoming show for seaside town artist and son

A sculptor whose first public art commission was in Southport is returning to the town in a joint exhibition with his son.

Brian Fell, 73, who grew up in Sefton, will be exhibiting with George, 34, who he has collaborated with over the last 15 years.

The show, 'Always Something New' opens at Southport's Atkinson gallery and arts centre today and runs until 17 October.

Fell senior trained as a sculptor in Manchester, supported by Sefton Council.

Seaforth-born Fell, 73, got the bug to work in metal as an art student attending at Manchester School of Art.

"There was a studio with metal where you could just run riot - I loved it," he said.

It is a love affair that has lasted more than 50 years.

One of his first public art commissions was in Southport, where he designed the railings for the seafront and created the landmark sculptures celebrating Southport's seagulls and shrimps and some of the familiar characters who performed on the pier, such as the cyclist and the one-legged diver.

"To be able to be more creative you have to do a lot of practical jobs - I have lost count how many railings I have made," he said.

He added: "It is great to have an exhibition in Southport where I spent a lot of time in my youth - I never knew about the Atkinson but it is a great venue and the staff have been wonderful."

The exhibition's name came from a regular visitor to their workshop at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is sited between Wakefield and Barnsley.

Seeing so many new pieces in their workspace prompted the visitor to start singing a version of the Cat Stevens hit Matthew and Son.

Fell said: "He regularly sings 'Brian and son there's always something new' and that's why we took the name for our exhibition."

The Atkinson exhibition highlights key commissions from the past forty years, with a special focus on the father and son's joint work.

George's fascination with the artefacts his dad brought home, inspired him to help out on projects as a teenager, before making his own mark.

"School work and a regular job seemed boring compared to what my dad was doing - it is great working together, we have a real laugh," he said.

However as Fell junior pointed out: "You can tell the difference between our work although it looks like it is from the the same 'family'."

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