The Manchester Art Book

A remarkable collection of artworks that shine a light on the city's grand edifices, quirky nooks, hidden quarters and modern architecture with equal affection and pride. From cotton mills – for this city was once the centre of textile manufacture – to classical composers and the successful careers of the Gallagher brothers, this is a city with a rich and diverse history. It's university, where Ernest Rutherford first split the atom in 1917, and established at the birth of modernity as we know it, features many 19th-century buildings and since 2004 been the largest single-site university in the UK – hosting both the Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. In their work, over 50 local artists portray the Gothic grandeur of Manchester cathedral, it's many and varied railway stations, and the breathtaking architecture of the Royal Exchange Theatre, the city's former cotton exchange. This book is a tribute to Manchester, a city famous for its creative and commercial exports, whose extensive canal network and dense urban landscape helped solidify its position as the world's first industrial city. The Manchester Art Book offers a new perspective on the city, through the eyes of the local artists it continues to inspire.