Northwich artists sell off work to raise funds for flood-hit shops

Melissa Atkinson has launched Design for CW9 – a Facebook page where artists can sell work to raise much-needed cash for businesses in town that were affected by Storm Christoph.

The Northwich artist had produced locally-inspired artworks to hang up at the Crate hair salon, in Crown Street.

Melissa produced Northwich-inspired artwork to hang up at Crate

But with the salon facing the double blow of lockdown and severe flood damage, Melissa wanted to do something to help.

"I just thought instead of having them hanging around here at home I could actually use them to help Crate to get back on their feet," she told the Guardian.

"There are a lot of people in Northwich who paint and have their work displayed in shops, so I'm hoping that others will join in to help other businesses in town.

Melissa produced Northwich-inspired artwork to hang up at Crate

"As artists we never absorb the costs that shop owners do at times like this, so it would be nice for people to join in."

Melissa, who moved to Mexico before returning to Northwich, made art her career four years ago having previously trained at college – and she teaches others online each Monday.

Charles Rose, owner of Crate, had encouraged her to produce something inspired by Northwich to hang up at the salon.

Melissa produced Northwich-inspired artwork to hang up at Crate

Melissa used impasto painting to give a grainy, industrial salt texture, before laying copper over it.

She added: "I then went to see which buildings in Northwich and Knutsford could match up with the shapes, painted over the top and added gold.

"The copper reacts with the salt in the impasto so you get a really cool effect."

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To see Melissa's works and to find out more about the project, see facebook.com/groups/designforcw9