The Manchester skyline coaster features an array of famous landmarks from Manchester and its surrounding area, sheltered from our infamous rain by an umbrella decorated with Alan Turing’s sunflower pattern, as a Manchester bee lands on it. If buildings and landmarks could tell stories, what would they say? Would we hear about the epic games and concerts to the roars of crowds at the packed football stadia, fun with friends at the Christmas markets outside the town hall, the visits from famous people, such as Churchill and Lloyd George, who’ve walked on the beautiful Manchester bee mosaiced floors, or more subdued stories of when the city became the centre of terrorist attacks, the infamous red post box on Market street standing ever watchful as the scenes unfolded? I’m sure they all could tell a tale. The sunflower umbrella in this piece can tell a story too; Alan Turing is commonly known for computer science and the key role he played in breaking the Enigma code in WWII, but did you know that he was also a mathematician and theoretical biologist? His was convinced that there was a mathematical explanation for the patterns found in the way that sunflower seeds were arranged in the flower heads, but he was unable to complete his studies before his death in 1954. Some 60 or so years later, a large study undertaken at the University of Manchester, proved that Turing was indeed correct; a fitting tribute to Turing who had also worked at the university. Based on the mosaic tiled floors inside the Manchester Town Hall, the bee landing on the umbrella, featured on an original piece of artwork that I created over an 18 month period, using recycled newspaper cuttings and hand marbled papers collaged together to recreate a section of the floor.
Manchester Skyline & Umbrella Coaster
Product Code: 3953-90CO
Artify your morning cuppa, workplace brew or evening tipple! This glossy hardboard coaster has been reproduced from one of my original mixed media pieces, including a whole host paper cut buildings from the Manchester skyline under a bright yellow Turing sunflower umbrella protecting the city's inhabitants from its infamous rain. Which buildings and landmarks do you recognise? Inspired from what I see in my garden, on my field work, travels and from life experiences, I work only from photographs that I have taken or sketches that I have made in the field. This coaster will withstand the hottest of brews or the coldest of cocktails and is easy to care for; simply wipe it clean with a cloth.
Ideal for: Anyone who loves British icons, design icons, Manchester, the Manchester Bee, skylines, landmarks, travel, all things British, UK, collecting coasters, art.
Coasters are made from a combination of 90% hardboard with 10% sawmill wood fibre waste making them very sturdy and robust. Finished with a stunning glossy coating, slightly bevelled edges and rounded corners, these coasters are easy care; simply wipe them clean with a damp cloth to keep them looking brand new! Recyclable. Coasters are sold individually (unless specified as part of a collection) and are boxed in a plain brown postal box for shipping. Coasters are not gift boxed unless this option has been selected.
90x90mm (approximately 3.54x3.54”) & about 3.4mm (0.13”) thick.
Buy 4 or more single coasters and receive a bulk buy discount
Buy 4 or more coasters and receive a discount per coaster. The coasters can be of any design, so you can mix and match as many different coaster designs as you want. Your discount will be applied on the Checkout page. Offer does not apply to sets of 4 as the discount has already been applied to them.