Events unveiled to mark anniversary of Macclesfield artist

The Macclesfield Cultural Forum is launching a series of ‘Inspired by Nature’ events in the winter months, to celebrate Macclesfield artist Charles Tunnicliffe.

From 1st December through to spring next year, Cheshire East Council will be co-ordinating events delivered by the cultural forum at venues across Macclesfield. The forum will be presenting an exciting programme of creative events to celebrate the life and work of Charles Tunnicliffe, ’an English genius’.

Born in Macclesfield in December 1901, Charles Tunnicliffe remains one of Britain’s most popular artists of the natural world. Described as a ‘countryman, through and through’, his work reflects his love of nature and the inspiration of his Macclesfield farming background.   

Tunnicliffe trained at Macclesfield School of Art before winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, London. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1944. His beautiful artworks were recognised by Brooke Bond, which featured them as collectable cards within their tea, giving them wide coverage and renown. However, he is probably best known for his illustrations in the Henry Williamson novel ‘Tarka the Otter’.

In celebration of the anniversary of what would have been his 120th year, Macclesfield organisations are featuring events linked to Tunnicliffe’s artwork. Macclesfield Town Council recently hosted its Tunnicliffe-themed Nature Welly Walk, with the Macclesfield Museums providing children’s nature-based etching activity at West Park.

Over the coming months, the Cultural forum – which has brought together Cheshire East Council, Macclesfield Town Council, The Silk Museum, LIT festival, Macclesfield Library and Cheshire Archives and Local Studies – will be working to produce exhibitions, talks and creative workshops that explore Tunnicliffe’s passion for nature and bring it up to date with a virtual reality trail, a flora and fauna light trail across the town centre and a schools’ competition.  

Councillor Nick Mannion, chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said: “Although his paintings go right back to the early part of the 20th century, the work of Charles Tunnicliffe can still be a great inspiration to young people today aspiring to get involved in art themselves.  

“These town-centre activities encourage people to familiarise themselves with the work of someone whose roots are very much in the local area and to explore their own creative potential.”

One of the activities that will be taking place is an augmented reality trail. Artist Jacki Clark is holding a drawing workshop in the Silk Museum this Saturday (23 October) for children, who will be able to use Tunnicliffe’s artwork as an inspiration for their own drawings. A selection of the drawings from these sessions will be included in the trail.

A permanent display of Tunnicliffe images will be installed at sites that relate to his work around Macclesfield town centre next year.

A full itinerary of the planned activities can be found at:

https://macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk/tunnicliffe120

Pictured above:

(left) A kingfisher by Charles Tunnicliffe (courtesy of the C.F. Tunnicliffe Estate)

(right) A shire stallion by Charles Tunnicliffe (courtesy of the C.F. Tunnicliffe Estate)