John Chapman's paintings are unashamedly nostalgic, whether evoking the great age of steam, the northern landscape of the 1950s or an Edwardian street scene. Filled with human activity and period detail, his paintings are an affectionate and highly detailed celebration of the past. With over 100 illustrations, John Chapman's Lancashire looks at the much changed urban landscape of the northwest, bringing to life the hustle and bustle of Lancashire's busy streets, its railway stations and quaysides. The familiar sights of busy industrial towns are portrayed with absolute clarity, from the crowded streets of Manchester, Wigan and Preston, to the Golden Mile at Blackpool teeming with day-trippers and the busy mill towns of the Pennines. A life-long fascination with transport is evident in all of John's work. The distinctive liveries of trains, buses and trams are meticulously researched and realised, along with roadside hoardings and cluttered shop fronts, which add to the period charm of these vanished townscapes. Less familiar and more tranquil corners of the county also feature, such as Glasson Dock in Lancaster and beautiful villages like Whalley and Downham.

Author Biography

The Author, Stephen Whittle, is a professional curator and exhibition organiser. He has written on a range of subjects, including the watercolours of JMW Turner, the Devis family of painters, contemporary photography and Victorian watercolour painting.