the big chimney

Born in Heaton Norris, Stockport provided much of his inspiration for his work even after he moved to St Ives in 1959. Famous for his depictions of Stockport streets, mills, parks and the iconic viaduct, Lowndes created scenes for his characters to inhabit, where they carried out everyday activities like hanging out the washing or eating fish and chips.

Lowndes’ work reflected a movement in the mid-fifties for writing about, photographing and painting working class people, depicting their aspirations, hopes and daily lives. His work also inspired the naming of the longest running TV soap, ‘Coronation Street’. He later moved to Cornwall and added Cornish seascapes and local people to his repertoire. Finally the family moved to Dursley in Gloucestershire until his death in 1978.

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