About Canalartist

Canal Artist - From the Beginning

Narrowboat Lowry (Butty)

Lowry came into our possession in 2007. We wanted to have have a place to work which didn't involve communting! So we decided to have a Butty. Lowry was originally a BCN Butty. The reg plate dates her to 1895ish. Well the backhalf of her anyway. At some point in the mid 20th Century she was in the posession of Alfred Matty & Sons.

Alfred Matty & Sons of Coseley near Bilston, were one of the biggest canal-carrying companies in the area, and specialised in carrying chemical waste. They owned at one point, a fleet of boats, aswell as a small fleet of motorised tugs. The company was absorbed into the crane hire business of Dewsbury and Proud Ltd in the 1980s, using Matty's canal side basin at Coseley.

She was found abandoned and was salvaged by Dave Harris of Dadfords Shed in Stourbridge. He split her in half in the late 80's; the more decorative front half went to make a leisure boat (currently moored at Acton Trussel) the backhalf (our half) he used to make an open workboat. The Workboat was then used by M & M Guest of Pooley Hall nr Tamworth to move gravel and suchlike, before being sold by Dave to us in 2007. We converted it into a Workshop and Art studio.

The People Behind Canalartist

Louise Moore - Painting, Photography and Crafts

"My work has been most profoundly influenced by moving onto a canal boat in 2004. Much of my current work is based on the rural and industrial landscapes of the canals of the West Midlands. I love boats, but the main feature of my work is the landscape, and the feeling of space and peace that is present in even the most urban parts of the canal network. Canals offer a wonderful range of landscapes, textures and structures, and of course the ever present added dimension of water!

I love to work in lots of different mediums. I produce work in Oils, Acrylics, Watercolours, Pastel and Pencil, alongside my Photography and Digital Artworks. Basically I love experimenting with images, colour and shape. I see each picture as a journey, and every time I take it it is different to the one before.

I have had studios in Birmingham, but right now my studio is in a 'butty' narrowboat: an unpowered canal boat towed behind a motor boat. The butty called 'Lowry' is an old working boat made from 1/2 of a late Victorian iron built coal boat from the Dudley area, and it is an amazing space to work in

I am a member of the SAA and of the Birmingham based Works Artists Collective  .I have paintings in private and public collections across the UK including Severn Trent Water and Wragg & Co Solicitors"

Alison Tuck - Ropework & Crafts

Alison Tuck trained as a Design Engineer, and worked for 10 years in the Automotive Industry, travelling all over the world. After moving onto the Canals with Louise in 2004, and with the pace of life being much slower, Alison chose to persue her interest in craft design using recycled and found materials. She has a paticular interest in knots and produces many decorative items. She can also make all types of Fenders to order, and can produce crochet lace in traditional designs or in a design of your choosing.

Additional Members of the Crew 

Tiggy She is 8 Years old and has always lived on a narrowboat.She enjoys walks and playing tug, as well as Sitting on the roof of the boat watching the world go by as we cruise on the canals.	Squash He is 4 Month old and is a Staffie rescued from the Forest Dog Rescue. He likes to chew slippers and cause general Puppy mayhem.