An artist has created a guide to Stockport with his take on an A-Z of the borough. Eric Jackson quit his job in journalism seven years ago to paint full-time, creating witty tourism posters of places around Greater Manchester.
The 65-year-old captures what makes our region brilliant, but at the same time, pokes fun at its quirks, which residents find all too relatable. For the Stockport Alphabet piece, he gives special mention to hats and the market hall, of course, along with the blue pyramid and the legendary Strawberry Studios.
Last year he updated the poster to reflect the ever-changing landscape of the town centre. “In the original version I did four years ago, I wasn’t very complimentary about Underbanks, because although I’ve always loved the buildings around there, it was full of charity and sex shops; it was horrible,” Eric said.
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“It was underinvested. Now, I absolutely love it. Stockport is always changing, I’ve always liked it, but I thought the council was a bit reluctant to let anybody do anything interesting in Stockport but the brakes are off now.”
Eric, who was born in Burnage but has lived in Cale Green for 34 years, has produced just shy of 100 posters since he began painting in 2015. “I am proud to be in Stockport, it’s not perfect, but I love where I live,” he added.
“Most of the places I’ve done I’ve got an affection for, even the ones I’m taking the mickey out of.” Whilst he was travel editor for the Manchester Evening News, Eric collected old stylised city posters, which inspired him to do a local take.
“One day I was sitting in the office at work, and I thought, I’ve got all these posters of places like Paris, Rome, but no one has done them for places like Urmston,” the artist, who studied at art school before taking up a career in journalism, said. “I thought they’re all a bit dry, so I thought I’d try and make them funny.
“I just sat in the office and came up with ideas for 10 posters with funny captions, I had them on my notepad for months and never did anything with them.” It wasn’t until Eric, who went on to work for 10 Alps Publishing after 19 years at the MEN, needed an operation that he was forced to put his vision into action. Unable to work for three months and with nothing else to do, he picked up painting again after 36 years.
He had also been inspired by a recent Grayson Perry exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery. “After that, I thought I’ve got to start painting,” he recalled. “Since leaving art school I always had ideas, but when you have kids, and a full-time job, and other stuff, you just can’t get round to it.
“The catalyst was the operation, then it grew. I started in a studio upstairs in the loft, then in the last eight months, I’ve moved into a studio I’ve had built at the bottom of my garden - all paid for by my work.”
The father-of-two credits his time as an editor and sub-editor writing snappy headlines for his successful niche in the art world. But sometimes, locals can take offence to his cheeky straplines. Citing the Hale poster in particular, where he describes it as 'one rung below' Bowdon, he said, laughing: “The bottom line puts people off, but I don’t mind, I’d rather keep that in and get a laugh than take it out and sell twice as many.
“With the Stockport Alphabet, I don’t care if people agree or not with my choices. It’s not meant to be definitive or correct.
"Some people say ‘you haven’t mentioned bla bla’ and I say ‘I’ve never heard of it.’ I sat down and whatever came into my head I wrote. I then slept on a few of them, altering them the next day.” While his biggest selling poster is one about the northern pronunciation of ‘bath’, Eric’s favourite is his depiction of the Cheshire village of Disley, where he played on a Disneyland theme.
“Even though I’ve written it, it still makes me laugh," Eric said. "I’ve not seen anything akin to what I do. My work means something to the people that live there.”
Here is the Stockport Alphabet, according to Eric Jackson. Do you agree with his A-Z of Stockport life? Let us know in the comments.
A
is for Abney Hall, the first place of note you come to when crossing the Mersey from Manchester into Stockport’s posh suburb of Cheadle. Agatha Christie stayed there a bit. Well her sister owned it.
B
is for the Blossoms, a glorious, unreconstructed pub on the A6 in Heaviley that inspired the name of the indie-sensations Blossoms, all local lads who went to Offerton and Mile End schools. Also for Bramall Hall, our own Tudor masterpiece in the village of Bramhall (note the roving ‘h’).
C
is for County, the Stockport football club that once gave Man City a hiding in the old second division. Also for clubs of the night, with Stockport having many chicken-in-a-basket venues such as the Poco-a-Poco, Quaffers and Bredbury Hall, plus the Bamboo in Hazel Grove.
D
is for Davenport Theatre, a joy to generations and a listed building, but nevertheless bulldozed by Stockport Grammar School, who owned it.
E
is for Etherow, the stunning country park in Compstall, named after the river that runs through it. Also for Edgeley, which once had the legendary Potts hardware store. The best shop ever!
F
is for Portwood’s Fred Perry, arguably the greatest ever English tennis player (he was good at table tennis too) and fashionable sports attire, provided by Bukta, who once kitted out the England football team.
G
is for Grapes, the fictitious Stockport pub in the classic TV series Early Doors, written by Stockport’s Craig Cash. A work of genius that rivals his other creation, the Royle Family.
H
is for hats. Stockport, along with Luton, was the foremost hat-making town in the country. A fine museum on the A6 celebrates the heritage.
I
is for industrial heritage. Thankfully some of Stockport’s great mills survive, most notably Houldsworth and Pear mills.
J
is for Joan Bakewell, who went to the girls’ school in Cale Green before going on to conquer the world of TV presenting. Also Joanne Whalley, who starred in The Edge of Darkness and The Singing Detective. Jaguar cars’ ancestry also goes back to a garage in Woodsmoor!
K
is for King Charles I. The debauched monarch lost his head in no small part due to the decisions of Stockport judge John Bradshaw.
L
is for lacrosse. Stockport is the number one place in the country for the men’s game, and the town has supplied dozens of England players over the years.
M
is for the Mersey and market place. The Scousers claim the Mersey as their own, but it starts in Stockport so it’s ours. End of. The market place looks divine but has failed to deliver in recent years. On the up now though.
N
is for Nobin. The Indian restaurant in Hazel Grove has to take the title of best named eaterie. Ever. Also for Norris - another classic name - one of the Heatons.
O
is for Old Town, the interesting bit of the town centre that isn’t new, basically. Also for overspill. After the war, half of Manchester moved to new council estates in Stockport, which is why there are so many City and United supporters.
P
is for pyramid, the big blue one that stands next to the M60 roundabout, and was occupied by the Co-op bank, and Plaza, the fine old theatre in the town centre.
Q
is for quids, which Stockport-born entrepreneur Philip Day, who owns a string of clothing chains, has over a billion of. Not that he’s splashing out in Stockport’s Poundland - he lives in Dubai now. His loss.
R
is for Red Rock, the new leisure complex that won a ‘Carbuncle of the year’ award after it was built. What are those red things stuck on it? Also Robinsons, or Robbies, the local brewery.
S
is for the legendary Strawberry Studios, just off Hillgate, where Joy Division, Paul McCartney and 10cc, among many others, recorded hit records.
T
is for town hall, designed by Alfred Brumwell Thomas, who was also responsible for Belfast City Hall. A huge white edifice on the A6 facing the old infirmary building, it’s often been called the Wedding Cake - sweet to some, sickly to others.
U
is for underground air raid shelters, one of Stockport’s biggest tourist attractions. Also for the Underbanks, which, thanks to people like Joe at the Cracked Actor, are making a resurgence. Going to be THE place to go.
V
is for viaduct and Vernon. The viaduct, allegedly the largest brick structure in Europe, is impressive but underplayed by town planners. Vernon, a famous Stockport name that has lent itself to a massive mill and a beautiful park.
W
is for Woodbank Park. Adjoining Vernon Park, a classic example of Victorian design, Woodbank has hills, sports pitches, the river Goyt and acres to delight thousands of dog walkers.
X
is for Express, the local newspaper, which was once produced in a place called Hollywood. Yes, Stockport’s got a Hollywood! The Express office is now in Oldham!
Y
is for Yarwood (Mike), who hailed from Bredbury, was once the world’s most famous impressionist. ‘Er, it’s an up and under’ was one of his most popular lines.
Z
is for Z Film Studios. Well we’ve got Hollywood. OK, so Z has never made a blockbuster, but it’s hot on promos and adverts!
The posters are available through Eric’s company website, www.statementartworks.com or via e-mail on statementartworks@gmail.com. You can also see the artist at makers markets across the region and stocked in various stores.
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