Art exhibition launch night is inspired by the history of Mossley

Locally-based artist Simon Mound is pictured alongside his large portrait of Denise Johnson

A Mossley artist is set to reveal his latest portrait as part of an exciting exhibition at the Gillery bar in Mossley.

The painting of a yet undisclosed subject has been commissioned by bar owner Dermot Gill and will be the centrepiece of an installation alongside famous faces of modern pop culture, music, comedy and film.

The portrait is by Simon Mound, a Mossley-based artist working primarily with stencils and spray paint to create iconic pop portraits of famous performers and musical legends.

Simon, who lives is Mossley and has a studio in Lees, has previously created similarly large portraits of Denise Johnson and Mark E Smith, the famed Fall front man, which graced the walls of Manchester pub the Northern for many years, only for the painting to sadly disappear when the pub changed hands.

The portrait of Denise, who worked with the Pet Shop Boys, Electronic, A Certain Ratio and Primal Scream, as well as pursuing her own solo career, currently sits proudly on the wall of SUP café bar in Urmston.

The artist said that the purpose of the artwork was “to celebrate the history of Mossley in a venue that is part of that history.

"I wanted to do something large to make use of the space and light that the Gillery has to offer, and at 8’ x 5’ this is my largest single portrait so far.”

The unveiling of the portrait will take place at the Gillery in Mossley on Thursday, July 7 from 7.30pm, at an event organised by the bar and the artist.

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