THE OLD ROCK FACTORY

The building really was a rock factory – the 1911 census reveals the Higgins family.

“Many cities have art centres in buildings associated with products once synonymous with them. It had to be Rock for Blackpool”

Robin Ross has rescued and restored the building; it’s solidly built with great metallic pillars underpinning the structure alongside wooden floors and bare brick walls The Rock Factory has the perfect artist vibe.

Since opening, The Old Rock Factory has been a venue for all types of artists, creatives and anyone wanting to ‘get into’ the arts scene in the Blackpool area.  The Building now houses The Rock factory Screen Print Studio, Celery Works an artist collective, two photographers and a community group.

ROBIN ROSS

“To play the music, meet the bands, and enjoy every minute has been the only aim and as a bonus be paid for my hobby”

Robin has had a long standing fascination for Screen prints works and pop art from the San Francisco and Cuban poster artists to Warhol, Rauschenberg, Malevich, Jasper Johns and many more.

 Starting as part of his radio career, events organisation became a key skill for Robin and no matter how large or small the event they always had their own rewards for him.

 Art in the Park was an idea Robin developed from his lifelong interest in images and style.  The 2003 Art in the Park exhibition featured rock stars, photographers, colour blind artists and painters on silk: pretty diverse for Blackpool and most people thought Robin was completely mad; however the Show won a Highly Commended award at the Blackpool Tourism awards.

 Art in the Park 2004 went further, with paintings on 8 feet square sheets of aluminium; punk musicians, abstracts from a staff member at Tate North and images of New York – this exhibition won the Gold Award for Innovation of the Year 2004.

 As Robin fell out of love with radio (and had nothing else to prove) Screen Printing came along, delivering the same rewards and creating something from nothing. For him, it’s all about the image, plus he gets to work with the most amazing artists.

Robin has had a solo show in New York, Austin Texas, Artist in Residence in Lisbon, Invited and took part as the only International Artist at the 2017 Moscow Print Market  ‘Arteology’ in Colne, The New Artist Fair in London,‘The Manchester Buy Art Fair’, ‘Mutate Britain’ and ‘Upfest’ Bristol.

 Robin also curates the ‘Sand, Sea & Spray’ Urban Art event in Blackpool (which he founded in 2011) which brings together Urban Artists from all over the world to paint live in the U.K.’s top tourist resort.

His journey continues… in 2019 having been invited to return to Lisbon and Moscow.