Artist records history with shopfront sketches

An artist is recording the history of local shops by sketching store fronts from around the city.

Ric Liptrot, 40, started drawing buildings around York when he moved to the city 15 years ago, and he now catalogues independent businesses that are about to close.

His recent projects include the Ken Spelman bookshop on Micklegate and P&S Hobbies and Models on Walmgate, which closed last week.

He said: "I love the stories people tell me about these places, they mean quite a lot to people."

Mr Liptrot said he enjoyed the "everyday" nature of a shopfront, and how they were something that people "might not normally look at much or give much time to".

"I love the intricacies, the colour and the detail," he added.

"I come out and sketch directly in front of the buildings. You bump into all sorts of people!"

He added that growing up in a family-run shop helped to inspire his work.

"My mum and dad ran a newsagent back in Runcorn where I'm from, so it's deeply ingrained in me, sticking up for the small businesses," he said.

"The high street is ever changing, and I feel like it must be a struggle for these shops, so I'm rooting for them."

Mr Liptrot also sketches some of the city's favourite quirkier venues.

"It's also about celebrating ones that are still going, like music venue The Crescent and the York Nut Centre with its iconic monkey nut character hanging outside."

He has also drawn iconic buildings, like the former York City football ground on Bootham Crescent.

"When I'm doing stalls, people come up to me and tell me their memories of these places. The football ground was a big deal for fans.

"I'm recording these places as a sort of memory for people." he said.

"They're important to the community spirit. They connect people together."

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