Sugar skulls were created by the Aztec people of Mexico to honour and celebrate the lives of deceased loved ones during their annual Day of the Dead holiday. Floral decoration, especially in the eyes, represented life and rebirth. The fifth piece in an annual series (started in 2014), this piece celebrates the city of Manchester. Every city has a story to tell and, just like its football stadia, Manchester is packed to the rafters with them. This unique sugar skull, with its vibrant blue and red hand painted background, celebrates Manchester lives and unites the colours of this great city, combining 30 iconic landmark buildings, structures, symbols and tiny details hidden within the picture, each telling their own story to create this vibrant piece of wall art; I’m all about the detail! Certainly, a great talking point for both you and your visitors! My sugar skulls are drawn from a real skull (thank my biology roots for that!) and I started drawing them on the day that the brilliant actor and comedian Robin Williams passed away; his death really shook me. I had already lost my mum and drew this piece with the vintage dip pen that I inherited from her. When mum got really ill, I remember watching some of his comedy late at night with her as she waiting to take the last dose of her daily medication. It seemed appropriate to draw a sugar skull remembering the lives of two people who had a major impact in my life. This piece combines my dip pen and ink drawing with intricate papercuts; if you look closely across the top of the skull’s scalp, I’ve layered papercuts to make a faux skyline of landmarks nestled together.
Celebrate Manchester Sugar Skull Coaster
Product Code: 4905-90CO
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 dip pen and ink drawn sugar skull, paper cut buildings from the Manchester skyline and vibrant acrylic ink painted backgrounds. This was a special Celebrate Manchester 2018 edition sugar skull, done in the fifth year of what has now become a collectible annual series. 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 sugar skulls, Day of the Dead, gothic icons, Mexicana, Manchester, the Manchester Bee, bees, travel, history, all things British, UK, travel, ink drawings, drawings with hidden symbols, landmarks, skylines, Manchester City football, Manchester United football, 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.