Salford artist wins international Abstract Art award: “I think Salford becomes a part of your DNA"

Salford artist wins international Abstract Art award: “I think Salford becomes a part of your DNA”

Salford artist Philip Westcott has won an Abstract Art award at the 4 Percent online gallery in the USA and has also been featured in the Daily Mirror.

Philip constantly sends his work to galleries and magazines, having been active in the art community for years.

He doesn’t usually enter his abstract work into art competitions because it is not his main style and something he does on the side for fun, so he was pleasantly surprised to receive the award.

The 4 Percent gallery is an online site which runs regular competitions for artists.

Watch Philip explain how the painting was created here:

Apart from gaining recognition with this award, one of Philip’s paintings of Eccles has been featured in the Daily Mirror’s Community Corner. This is one of his favourite paintings, out of about 500 he has done, and it sold quickly last year.

Philip’s painting of Eccles which was featured on the Daily Mirror. Courtesy of Philip Westcott.

Philip said: “I think Salford becomes a part of your DNA.”

This means his inspiration and creative output never slows down, he is constantly drawing or painting and working on projects. He doesn’t see it as a job anymore but rather as what he loves to do, it’s so special to him to receive awards and know he is representing his hometown.

Having lived in Salford for his entire life, it has been a constant inspiration for his works, since he began painting in school. He said: “Going to Salford Market with my parents every weekend, all the figures I saw around there, I used as inspiration.”

One of Philip’s paintings of the Salford Prectinct. Photo courtesy of Manuela Sanchez Lopez.

Most of his paintings show Salford in an extraordinary way and he continues to find more special ways to show it. He is very proud of being able to represent and share his point of view of Eccles. He said: “It’s nice to bring Eccles into the limelight for a change.”

A few of his paintings were also recently sold during the Salford Art Club Exhibition which will still be on display until December 3.

Philip is constantly finding ways to be involved in the art community by reaching out to magazines and galleries. He said: “It’s like a snowball effect, I sent my work to magazines and made connections with them so now I can constantly send more and be featured again.”