Urbis, Manchester, with Lowry Matchstick Men Painting

Michael Gutteridge was born in Manchester, Northern England, birthplace of the industrial revolution. I began painting professionally in 2001, when, after submitting a painting in an Open Exhibition at Stockport Art Gallery, I was invited by them to present a full exhibition of 20 paintings the following year. Since then, I've continued to develop and explore my own unique vision which mostly involves trying to capture exciting, vibrant, stimulating or moodful aspects of the urban landscape, especially of my home city of Manchester and its environs. Especially, just lately, at night. I was recently shortlisted as one of the finalists from 12,000 entries for the Aesthetica Creative Arts competition. My images have been used promotionally by the University of Lancaster, the University of Manchester, in pop videos, in magazines, on the covers of books and even made into postcards by the Manchester Tourist Office. They are exhibited regularly in the North of England, and are in private collections around the world.