Oldham artist has taken inspiration from Chester Zoo

Self-proclaimed “part-time artist” Anne Bardsley, of Royton, will hold her debut solo exhibition Wild Encounters at the Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport next month.

It comes as a huge step for the emerging artist’s career, but the 36-year-old only began to take art “seriously” in the last two years having struggled with her confidence.

Wild Encounters is coming to Stockport (Image: Anne Bardsley)

“I’ve always been interested in art, I did it at A-level but didn’t pursue it because I didn’t feel confident enough – instead I took it up as a hobby and have been doing it on and off since college,” she said.

“Over the past two years I’ve taken it more seriously, I class myself as a part-time artist as I’ve got a part-time job as a payroll clerk.”

Originally from Blakeley, Miss Bardsley explained that her exhibit is a collection of her most recent artwork themed around endangered animals with a story behind each piece.

Anne Bardsley with her balancing farm animal artwork (Image: Anne Bardsley)

Residents can view it free-of-charge from November 20 – Monday to Saturday 9am till 5pm, Sunday 10.30am till 4.30pm.

She continued: “I went to Chester Zoo last year for reference photos and I met a baby orangutan called Dot. They climbed from the bottom of the enclosure to the top and I captured two pictures, one of the orangutan with their thumbs up and the other with their face on the glass.

Anne Bardsley with her Zebra piece (Image: Anne Bardsley)

“It felt like I was viewing the animals, these endangered species and they were allowing and accepting me taking a photo of them.

“I focus on animals and what makes me happy and what I enjoy doing – what I want each piece to represent and how it can create a story.”

Anne Bardsley with the frog she painted in Stockport (Image: Anne Bardsley)

The decision to host her exhibition in Stockport comes after she took part and painted one of 19 frogs in the Frogtastic Invention trail – an outdoor art trail run by the council highlighting ground-breaking inventions.

Part of the reason behind Miss Bardsley trekking to south Manchester is due to the lack of art opportunities there currently are in Oldham, she claimed.

“I did take part in the Oldham Gallery competition last year, but I don’t feel there’s anything in Oldham at the minute.”