Glossop illustrator Gordon Hutson brings artwork to Stalybridge Library

Visitors to Stalybridge Library later this month will have the chance to meet illustrator Gordon Hutson, who will be hosting a one-day stall on Saturday, November 22 to showcase and sell his distinctive artwork.

Gordon, who lives in Glossop, is known for his beautifully detailed illustrations of cats, airplanes and trains. At the library, he’ll be displaying a full range of mounted pieces, greeting cards, and copies of his self-published book, which has already proved a hit with readers.

“It’s been selling very well; we’ve sold over 300 copies so far and it’s now in 18 different outlets, including the garden centre here in Glossop and the Pump Room in Buxton.”

All of Gordon’s artwork will be available to purchase on the day, offering visitors a chance to pick up a unique, locally made gift just in time for the festive season.

Gordon’s journey into illustration has been anything but ordinary. Originally a survey engineer, he began drawing seriously after a life-changing trip abroad in the 1990s.

Gordon recalled: “When a big round of redundancies came, I decided to do something different. I’d read a book about working around the world, and it mentioned teaching English in Hong Kong, so I did a short course and went for two wonderful years.”

It was there, while teaching English to students with very limited language skills, that Gordon discovered drawing could bridge the communication gap.

“A lot of the students couldn’t speak English, and I couldn’t speak Japanese, so the only way we could communicate was through pictures. That’s how I really got into drawing in a big way.”

Although he’d dabbled in art before, taking night classes in life drawing at the Central School of Art in London, the experience reignited his creative passion. After returning to the UK, he began self-publishing greeting cards, starting with just six designs. Over time, that collection has grown to more than forty, featuring the subjects that inspire him most.