Q&A with Gavin Renshaw

In 2019, Preston-based artist Gavin Renshaw had the opportunity to fly in a light aircraft above Preston. During the Covid-19 Pandemic he used the photographs taken during that flight to create a large drawing, a birds-eye view of the city titled ‘Corona’.

The drawing orientates the viewer north of the city looking south towards the university campus and city centre with the river Ribble visible at Walton-Le-Dale. This artwork will be displayed on a light box on the ground floor in the ‘Heart of Preston’ display when we reopen. Gavin is currently reproducing the artwork for display.

Could you share some background about the inspiration behind the artwork you are currently creating for The Harris?

For some time, I have wanted to do a larger study to follow on from the Expanded City body of work which included numerous small studies of Preston from afar capturing the centre at a particular moment: a phase of expansion and redevelopment. The issue I had was finding the time to commit to such a large piece. In the first few months of 2020 the world came to a standstill with the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown ensued which inadvertently gave me the opportunity to devote the time I knew the piece demanded.

Can you tell us what aspects of The Harris’ art spaces made you consider it the perfect venue to display your art when we reopen in 2025?

I think we eagerly await the new spaces at the Harris and it is probably difficult to realise just how they might look but what was a driving factor was looking into the Harris Collection and notably two works: John P. Jenkinson View of Preston from Penwortham Hill and Charles Ernest Cundall, Preston. Both of these large pieces will be on public display again with the reopening. They span both Pre-industrial Preston (or at least its initial inception) and post-industrial in regard to the Cundall. The piece of work to be displayed represents a contemporary impression of the city, which has always been shaped by its prevalent industries, something that I think is echoed in both the historic works.

Could you take us through the challenges you encountered during the process of capturing aerial footage of Preston from a plane? How did you manage to achieve those shots?

I really dislike flying, so it was quite the challenge! I had the opportunity to join some friends in a flight over the Lake District and I thought I would distract myself by taking my camera. I was hoping we would swing back over Preston before landing at Blackpool and luckily, we managed to convince the pilot on the short detour. I rattled off so many photos, but it was quite turbulent so was unsure what I had captured, I knew I had a few good angles which took in all the key landmarks I was hoping to depict. So, to a certain degree, there was a huge element of luck that I managed to get the aspect I was looking for. I used these shots as reference for the drawing.

Harris Your Place

Harris Your Place is a £16 million project set to restore and reimagine the Harris for 21st-century audiences as a cultural learning space. The aim of this project is to protect the building and the architecture for future generations whilst enhancing accessibility options and positioning the Harris as a community hub for Preston and Lancashire.

The capital project is more than simply preserving this much-loved building; Harris wants to ensure that it remains a vibrant heart of the community. A place where people want to spend their time.