Most of the pictures in the current exhibition at The World of Glass were painted in the open air.
And just to remove any possible doubt St Helens artist Paul Cousins has even had his outdoor sketchbook specially framed and included in the show.
“Visitors to the gallery may be a bit surprised but I thought it was such a shame that people never get to see our sketchbooks,” he explains.
“It’s a rather unusual idea though and I had to enlist the help of local picture framer Barry Callaghan.
“He’s created a special frame that even allows me to open the back and display a different page of sketches if I wish.”
Paul came up with the idea to underline the open air theme of the exhibition Colin and Friends which highlights the work of the acclaimed St Helens artist Colin J Callon who died in 2007.
Like his friends in the show, Colin always liked to take his brushes, palette and easel out of doors to paint local landscapes.
“Colin has the most pictures in the exhibition,” says Paul, “while myself, his brother, Noel, and local artist Ulrich West, are very much the supporting acts.
“Like him we all share a love of painting ’en plein air’ and wanted to keep the show in his spirit.”
The exhibition was inspired by Colin’s widow Ellen, who wished to commemorate her husband’s memory in his home town in the year he would have celebrated his eightieth birthday.
Colin and Friends will run at The World of Glass until September 22.