A Portrait of Tower Mill

Manchester’s industrial heritage and our work to bring the iconic Tower Mill back to life is a huge part of our story.

So when we decided to commission a painting of our new and improved home, we naturally looked to Sue Scott – a home-grown artist renowned for her industrial and city-scape masterpieces.

An epic commission

After three months of painstaking work, the enormous painting (one of Sue’s largest commissions) is now in pride of place at the mill. So, we invited Sue to see it in situ and take a look around.

Sue says Manchester’s buildings and industrial landscape is her main source of inspiration – probably because it’s in her blood.

“My family history is in manufacturing. My great-great grandfather had a glass manufacturing business in Ancoats. The other side of the family were in hat-making in Stockport.

“I find it fascinating and it’s amazing to think I’m in a working mill, like they would have been. Although they were working and I’m sat having a chat and a cup of tea!”

Manchester’s changing industrial landscape

Sue first began painting Manchester when she returned to the city after living away for more than a decade. And it was then she left her career in care work to follow her dream of being a painter.

She said: “I came back and it was so different. Alongside all of these historic and industrial landmarks that everyone knows and loves, there was also these modern, glass buildings. I loved it, I just had to start painting it.”

Pride of place in the mill

Sue admitted it was a relief to see how good the Tower Mill painting looks now it’s in place, because the piece was not without it’s challenges.

“Getting the perspective right was the hardest thing – when you haven’t got a ruler as big as the canvas, it can be quite a challenge.”

Sue doesn’t just work on commissions, her sought after and instantly recognisable images of Manchester are available as prints and on merchandise too. We recommend you visit her website and take a look (www.slscott.co.uk).

You can watch the full interview with Sue here:

https://vimeo.com/215170435/settings/embed