The theme of the painting is based from a long time ago around the Castlefield area of Manchester.
The colours of the bee are taken from the colours of the buildings from the Victorian times with the old roads, bridges, paths and cobbled streets. Some are still around today! It is painted in greys, browns, black and cream to try and represent the feeling of the Victorian times. Just like an old sepia photograph..!
I have painted a bee because in the old days of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester with its canals, barges and boats delivering coal to the factories. They were used to power the large machines, spinning wheels, etc, and from the chimneys came the billowing smoke..!
The 'Bee' was adopted by Manchester as their symbol because it represented all the people busy working in all factories. Just like the bees in Victorian Times!
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