Si Scott gets lyrical

An exhibition and sale of limited edition posters from illustrator Si Scott is to take place at Manchester Photographic Gallery. The proceeds will go to local charity Forever Manchester (www.forevermanchester.com).

The exhibition will run in the Tariff Street Gallery from 1 December for two weeks, comprising a specially commissioned series of 11 posters.

Each uses as its focus lyrics from Manchester bands including The Buzzcocks, Elbow, Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Fall, The Doves and Joy Division. The unique typeface used in the pieces has been specially created by Si for the series.

Based in Manchester Si Scott is ranked in the Top 200 illustrators in the world. His work is characterised by a combination of hand-inked and penned artwork with modern typography. His style has won him a prestigious and ever-expanding client list, including Vogue, Nike, Polydor, Guinness, MTV, Absolut, Tiffany & Co, Miller and American Express.

Prices will start from £100. Proceeds from sales will be donated to Forever Manchester.

Si Scott has lent a grace and an elegance to the lyrics of the bands here – check out the illustrations. His complex yet clear designs create a dramatic intensity to the lyrics as they float disembodied on the posters. It underlines how meaning is added to text once it’s isolated, printed and published. These designs, when all said and done, are really very beautiful pieces.

As so many of us are aware, Manchester’s musical heritage is increasingly in danger of becoming fossilised. Perhaps the classic bands of the last three decades are best served not through hagiography or another Hacienblah night but by a fresh vision, such as the one offered by these Si Scott pieces. And of course all the money spent on these goes to a good cause.

You can see more of Si Scott’s work at www.siscottstudio.com

Si Scott for Forever Manchester, Manchester Photographic Gallery, 3B Tariff Street, City, M1 2FF. Exhibition runs throughout December and entry is free.