ONE of the North West’s most promising artists, Ian Mood, is opening his first solo art exhibition at The Gateway Gallery, Hale this month.

The Gateway Gallery specialises in paintings by Modern British Artists, particularly those who are grouped together under the label 'The Northern School', such as L.S. Lowry, Geoffrey Key and Ben Kelly.

Ian’s four-week exhibition will open on Saturday, October 8.

Visitors will be able to appreciate Ian’s paintings of Manchester cityscapes and Peak District landscapes as well as his interpretations of New York City, which have captured the hearts of American art lovers. His paintings hang in collections and exhibitions in Cape Cod and New York, earning him a following of collectors and membership of the Artist’s Association of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Susan Eyres, at The Gateway Gallery, said: “Ian is one of the region’s most promising artists. Whether it’s the city of Manchester or the surrounding moorlands, Ian’s work has captured the attention of all types of art lovers and the exhibition will provide a great opportunity to share more of his talent.”

Ian Mood added: “The North West’s urban and rural landscapes and ever changing weather patterns provide endless inspiration. I’ve attempted to capture this and put it at the heart of the exhibition. It’s a real honour to have a dedicated show in a gallery that represents the north’s most celebrated artists.”

A contemporary artist, Ian started painting at a young age, inspired by his grandfather who was a respected landscape painter and studied under celebrated Staffordshire artist Reginald Haggar.

Ian still uses his grandfather’s original brushes in his artwork and, after finding a series of his old photographs, plans to paint locations that his grandfather didn’t have the chance to before he died.

The exhibition, ‘Things Seen – The Paintings of Ian Mood’ runs until November 5. Paintings range from £250 – £1,800. The exhibition will be followed by a Northern retrospective show at the Gateway Gallery, featuring four pieces of Ian’s work alongside Liam Spencer, Harold Riley and Ghislaine Howard.