Can the Wheel Trim Shady kindly rise to his feet?
A Stockport-born artist has given a fresh lease of life to a commonly discarded object in order to display it in a large art installation for the Stockport Town of Culture Creative Weekender.
His colourful creations, made from discarded wheel trims, are currently being showcased in an exhibition at the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery. This serves as a preview to a bigger outdoor installation at Merseyway, which will be part of the events and celebrations taking place across the town centre during the Stockport Town of Culture Weekender on 23 and 24 March.
Councillor Frankie Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport at Stockport Council, expressed his delight at the creative talent in Stockport. He praised the transformation of everyday objects into vibrant works of art by local artists and community groups.
Nick, a 35-year-old from Bredbury, began this project after coming across a discarded wheel trim and saw an opportunity to combine his passion for art and cars in a unique way. He found that painting these wheel trims in his spare time not only provided a creative outlet but also improved his mental well-being by offering an escape from the pressures of social media and advertising, where he has worked for over 14 years.
In addition to his art, Nick is an award-winning Creative Director known for viral campaigns for organisations like WWF and the NHS. He also manages a thriving creative community called One Minute Briefs and has a substantial following on various social media platforms.
As the project gained traction, Nick started an Instagram page to showcase his final pieces and document the creative process behind each artwork. He reached out for more wheel trims on social media and received a generous donation from Milesmore Tyres, leading to an expansion of the project.
With growing support from Stockport Town of Culture, Nick collaborated with local artists and community organisations to create a striking piece of upcycled wall art from unwanted materials. The involvement of various groups and individuals, including local art studios and young people from community organisations, added diversity and creativity to the project.
The finished wheel trims, coated with lacquer donated by Rooney’s Body Shop, will be displayed in a large outdoor installation at Chestergate Taxi Rank, just in time for the Town of Culture Weekender. This exhibition will feature exclusive collaborations with local artists and highlight the artistic talent present in Stockport.
The wheel trims can currently be viewed at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, offering a glimpse into the Stockport Town of Culture Creative Commissions. To see more of the artwork, visit the full album on Instagram.
