My Artwork

Oil Paintings

I started painting in oils in December 2017 and many of the following were completed over the next 12 months. Initially, I painted a series entitled ‘Working Class Heroes’ – images of the men I saw when growing up in the back streets of Birmingham (UK) in the 1950s. These were hard-working men who laboured in Brum’s many factories, often doing mind-numbingly boring and repetitive jobs. Many wore flat caps and they liked a pint. I’ve tried to capture them relaxing in the pub after a hard day’s work.

Paintings by Phil Mansell — Cheeky Chappy (left) Lighting Up #1 (top right) Three Men In A Pub (centre right) Two Men and a Barmaid #1 (bottom right)

I’ve exhibited these paintings a couple of times in the towns of Denia and Pego in Spain. I’ve even managed to sell a few- one to a fellow Brummie who grew up in the same area as me, although, amazingly, we never met until the exhibition. I was also pleased to sell one (‘It’s Nice Out’) to a lady who lives in California to decorate the walls of her cottage in Ireland. As you can see, I’ve experimented with different styles of painting – and I’ll continue to experiment until I get something I’m happy with!

Sketches

For a change of style, I’ve done some paintings entitled ‘Dancing at the Fiesta’, based on photos I’ve taken of village festivities in Spain. Two of these were sold to a French couple who had recently moved to Javea in Spain.