Mackenzie Thorpe has been announced as the official artist of the 2019 Welcome to Yorkshire garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Canals and countryside are celebrated in the new Mackenzie Thorpe work inspired by Welcome to Yorkshire Chelsea garden.
Mackenzie Thorpe has been announced as the official artist of the 2019 Welcome to Yorkshire garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The artist has created an image specifically for the event, titled ‘Under the Moon and Stars’. It is inspired by this year’s entry into the show which celebrates the county’s rich industrial heritage and the beauty of our canals and waterways.
Mackenzie’s evocative artwork captures the essence of Yorkshire’s world-renowned countryside as well as it’s early manufacturing heritage; in the foreground an adult and child stand under a star and moon lit sky, in a field of wildflowers, beside a canal, looking out to the hills rising in the distance.
The highlight of the 2019 Welcome to Yorkshire show garden will be an authentically built canal with flowing water and genuine canal lock gates. It also includes a towpath and a lock keeper’s lodge with a colourful garden and vegetable patch.
It’s the 10th year that the tourism body has attended the world’s most prestigious flower show, where it showcases the county to the world.
Commercial Director of Welcome to Yorkshire Peter Dodd said:
“The Chelsea Flower show is just one of the ways we promote our fantastic county to a global audience and we’re delighted Mackenzie has produced this stunning artwork – which further helps us shout about the beauty of Yorkshire. The painting has a really magical feel and I’m sure when people see it they will be inspired to visit Yorkshire and experience its many unique qualities at first hand.”
This year marks 30 years as a professional artist for Mackenzie Thorpe and his appointment is the latest landmark commission, following his work for this year’s Tour de Yorkshire.
Mackenzie Thorpe said:
“It’s a privilege to be asked to create an artwork for the Welcome to Yorkshire garden as they celebrate their 10th anniversary at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. With this painting I really wanted to capture the magic of a summer evening in Yorkshire. We’re so lucky to have such amazing countryside as a natural resource we can all enjoy. The county’s industrial landscape, as symbolised by the canal and locks, is also an important aspect. The days of the working canal are gone but its power runs through us and has a beauty all of its own.”
The garden is being designed by Mark Gregory who worked on Welcome to Yorkshire’s most successful Chelsea garden to date, last year. His 2018 Dales inspired garden scooped a Gold Medal, the People’s Choice Award and won the prize for Best Construction.
Welcome to Yorkshire garden designer Mark Gregory said:
“I really love Mackenzie’s take on this year’s canal scene. He’s captured the elevation, hills and drama of Yorkshire’s waterways beautifully. I particularly love the night time setting and shadow play with the flowers in the foreground. Masterful “
About Mackenzie Thorpe: Mackenzie Thorpe’s journey from dyslexic child, born into a working class family in Middlesbrough, to international artist exhibiting worldwide has been both extraordinary and inspirational. Celebrating 30 years in the business in 2019, Mackenzie Thorpe continues to blaze a trail for the artists who have followed in his footsteps.
He is marking the year with major celebrations in Middlesbrough, where he has unveiled a new sculpture at the Tees Transporter Bridge, and Yorkshire, as the official artist for the Tour de Yorkshire and Welcome to Yorkshire garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as a world tour.
His collectors come from all walks of life and include famous names from the worlds of sport, music, film, politics and royalty, while achieving global success in galleries throughout the UK, America, Japan and Australia.
Mackenzie uses his art to regularly support local, national and international charities. All of his charitable work relates back to important issues depicted in his art such as disadvantaged children, loneliness and hope.
Find out more
Follow Mackenzie Thorpe on Facebook @artistmackenzie, on Twitter @artistmackenzie and Instagram @artistmackenzie