There’s Summit About Sheffield

There’s Summit About Sheffield ~ No.9 Fargate: Your Name in Lights

This piece captures the spirit of a lost era when retail stood proud and illuminated the streets with golden advertising signs. The painting focuses on the old Austin Reed shop on Fargate, known for its striking ‘Summit Shirts & Collars’ sign that once glowed with elegance and charm. 

The building itself, constructed in 1889, originally housed A.H. Holland, a provisions merchant, before becoming home to Austin Reed, a renowned clothing retailer in the mid 20th century. This iconic structure stood as a beacon of style and sophistication in what was once Sheffield’s bustling commercial heart. 

How No. 9 Fargate used to look

I’m fascinated by how older buildings and architecture around us must have looked in their glory days, and how in many ways they are forever lost, floating above us in a collective conciousness that slowly dwindles with time, only reinginted by photos featuring people who are also lost to those living now.

Along with this building, Abbeydale Picture House and the Salvation Army Citadel are structures that I’ve looked at longily over the last 18 years and wished I had the financial resaources to rescue. It’s truly wonderful to see that these historic landmarks across our city are finally getting the love they deserve.

Take a look at how No. 9 Fargate used to look in more detail on Sheffielder.net

Fargate has witnessed dramatic transformations over the decades. From a vibrant shopping hub in the 1960s, home to iconic stores like Austin Reed and Boots, to its pedestrianisation in later years, the street has evolved with the city’s changing fortunes. More recently, redevelopment efforts aim to revitalise the area with green spaces, improved lighting, and seating areas to create a more inviting and dynamic space. 

In this painting, I’ve used iridescent watercolours in rich greens and golds that capture light differently depending on the angle of view, giving the building an ethereal quality. The structure seems to float, suspended in another time and place, echoing how the memory of old Fargate slowly fades from living memory. The walnut stained frame references traditional materials from the building’s era, while the modern, premium 300gsm polyester canvas acts as an absorbent textile, allowing the inks and watercolours to dissipate and layer organically. This technique creates a spectral, dreamlike appearance that mirrors the fading grandeur of Sheffield’s past. 

There’s Summit About Sheffield serves as both a tribute to the golden age of retail and a reflection on the impermanence of urban spaces, inviting viewers to reflect on the past while contemplating the future of this ever evolving city.

There’s Summit About Sheffield will be on display in the Yard Gallery Sheffield from Friday 28th March as part of their ‘City to Peaks’ Exhibition.