January 31st 2010 - Banksy's Rat

Renowned graffiti/street artist, Banksy, was commisioned to stencil this rat on the derelict Whitehouse pub near Chinatown as part of the city's Biennial Art Programme in 2004. Since then he has become internationally recognised and his Liverpool rat is accredited with being Britain's biggest Banksy. The council were forced to reconsider plans to cover the artwork in 2008 following a successful campaign by Banksy fans and famous public figures. The building is up for auction next month. Let's hope the rat lives on...

"January is here, with eyes that keenly glow, A frost-mailed warrior striding a shadowy steed of snow"... As the month comes to a close I have added a slideshow of my January photographs to the blog. These images haven't featured in my daily posts but are still available to purchase.

January 30th 2010 - The Last Day

The city has been graced by a Big Wheel at Liverpool One throughout the festive period. Sadly, today was its last. As queues developed for a final 'round trip', I took this photograph of the wheel reflected in the windows of the restaurants on the second level. Beautiful blue sky but a bitterly cold afternoon.

January 29th 2010 - Snow clouds over Liverpool Waterfront

A world famous scene - Liverpool Waterfont taken from Wirral side of the Mersey. The Three Graces, Cathedral, and St. John's Beacon alongside some of the more recent additions to the 'family' - Beetham Tower and the almost completed Museum of Liverpool Life. With the ferry in the foreground and blue skies overhead, it is hard to believe that just 5 minutes after I had taken this photograph today there was a driving blizzard of huge snowflakes. Strange light, strange weather.

SOLD - 9 remaining

January 28th 2010 - Cobbled street, Herculaneum Dock

This passageway connects Riverside Drive with Grafton Street in Dingle. Beneath this street are the original tunnels from the old Herculaneum Dock, used at the time for storing explosives. There is also a sandstone tunnel where the overhead railway cut through to Dingle. Like much of the area it appears long forgotten...

January 27th 2010 - Liverpool Culture Mural

All over Liverpool you will stumble across amazing examples of public art. I was carrying out a photographic study of the old Dingle Tunnel area, when I found this hidden gem today. Well worth a look, it depicts scenes from the city's colourful, and sometimes troubled, history - from the Toxteth riots to the dockers' strike, alongside other cutural motifs. The artist, Alan Murray, painted a number of themed murals around the city to celebrate the Capital of Culture status in 2008.

January 26th 2010 - Strawberry Fields Forever?

Yet another Beatles landmark...the song, Strawberry Fields, was written by John Lennon about a children's home near his Aunt Mimi's house, 'Mendips', where he too lived. He would spend his days as a child playing in the grounds of the children's home. The original Strawberry Fields building was demolished some time ago and replaced by a more modern structure. It continued to be used as a children's home until more recent years. It now stands empty, the grounds overgrown. Still, many come from across the globe to pay homage. The bright red gates are painted by a fan from outside the city who travels to carry out the deed once every year.

January 25th 2010 - Aeroplane over the Mersey

A peaceful walk in the grounds of Speke Hall, interrupted by this roaring jet overhead. I liked the idea of ancient and modern alongside each other in this image - the old tree, firmly rooted in the foreground and the plane coming in to land at John Lennon Airport overhead.

January 24th 2010 - 'Dragon's Nostril' at the Anglican Cathedral

Back photographing the interior of the Anglican Cathedral again today. This shot was taken in the area behind the altar, where the choir and clergy congregate before a service begins. I love the colour and texture of the sandstone and how it seems to illuminate the jewel colours in the stained glass window beyond. There are two of these archways, framing the steps on either side of the altar. The choir refer to 'going through the dragon's nostrils' as they file up and out into the choir stalls through these archways - a fitting description.

January 22nd 2010 - Cathedral Candles

Peaceful afternoon photographing the Anglican Cathedral and neighbouring St. James' Gardens, where the Cathedral tower was semi-obscured by mist. Inside, the warm glow of these candles against the sandstone walls was a sharp contrast. Each candle represents a prayer.

January 22nd 2010 - Fog on the Mersey

I took this photograph of the River Mersey this afternoon as the fog descended. It was so atmospheric, with the distant fog horns sounding and the lonely buoys bobbing on the surface of the water. I liked the contrast of the different shades of white on white, overlapping in this image and the seagull overhead - perhaps the spirit of a lost sailor, as legend would have us believe...

January 21st 2010 - Speke Hall

Misty, bright morning with just a hint of Spring cutting through the freezing cold air. Wandered along the Estate Walk at Speke Hall and took this shot of the Hall through the young trees in the woodland. A view of the house that isn't a familiar one; it looked like a hidden secret emerging from the undergrowth. This timber framed Tudor house, formerly home to the Norris, Beauclerk and Watt families from 1530 until it was passed to the National Trust in 1942, is one of the finest remaining examples in the country. The ghost stories are legendary...

January 20th 2010 - The Allerton Oak

This ancient tree, in the grounds of Calderstones Park, is estimated to be around 1000 years old. I'm always amazed it is still standing since it is most certainly a hollow oak and the huge wide branches are propped up with metal rods. Legend has it that the 'Hundred Court', consisting of elders and decision makers, held their meetings under the tree during Liverpool's early days. It is certainly a strange and mystical sight. I liked the way the gnarled branches seemed to have a life of their own and formed 'pictures' when I took this photograph this morning.

January 19th 2010 -'The Four Seasons' Gates

An early start and a busy day today, so I took a quick morning walk through one of my favourite haunts, Calderstones Park. It was most certainly the best part of the day - the misty morning soon turned into another cold, grey afternoon. The grand wrought iron gates to the park, bearing the city's Liver Bird crest, are flanked by two giant figures of Atlas. The gates, and the stone statues representing the four seasons which stand on the boundary wall, originally belonged to a building near the town hall owned by John Bibby, an iron and copper merchant.

January 18th 2010 - Cantilever Bridge, Stanley Dock

Amazing to think that not too long ago the magnificently restored Albert Dock area looked like this. Stanley Dock is currently derelict, although there are supposedly plans afoot to renovate. This cantilever bridge on Waterloo Road at the dock was the first of its kind. The disused tobacco warehouse behind remains the largest warehouse in the world, amounting to some 27 million bricks. Yet more firsts for the city... A still, grey afternoon made the dock seem even more of an eerily empty ghost town; but I could almost taste the history of the place, so overpowering was the sense of what had gone before.

January 17th 2010 - John

Snow has finally left us and people are, once again, out and about. I met John walking his dog by the Garston gas tank, 'Prospero'. One of the best things about social photography is that you meet great characters who are always keen to chat. Often beginning with a question about what you're photographing it usually ends with sharing stories and fascinating life experiences. I wanted to capture the spirit of the old Garston Village, next to a recognised landmark. John was just that, originally from Ireland with 44 years working on the railways, he told me the snow last week was nothing compared to the snows he knew - but back then, everyone just got on with it...

January 16th 2010 - Liverpool at Night

This amazing aerial view, looking out across the city towards the Metropolitan Cathedral, was taken at nightfall tonight from the 331ft. high tower of the Anglican Cathedral. A clear sky but very breezy at the top. Liverpool University's multicoloured Engineering building and red brick clock tower can be seen behind the Cathedral and the busy Hope Street, home to the Philharmonic Hall, is in the foreground to the right.

January 15th 2010 - Lark Lane Chippy

Lark Lane in Aigburth has long been considered the haunt of artists, musicians, students and bohemians. 'The Lane' also has a true and long standing sense of community spirit, as I witnessed today when I was out and about with my camera and spotted this scene. The man from the local chip shop brought an order out for a passing customer and stopped to pass the time of day. There has always been a slower pace of life in Lark Lane.

January 14th 2010 - The Coach House, Calderstones Park

The sandstone Coach House was one of the outbuildings belonging to the Mansion in Calderstones Park. It now houses Ranger Service offices and The Coach House Gallery, where exhibitions of local arts and crafts are regularly held. I was on a mission, as night fell this evening, to photograph the ancient Allerton Oak tree in the Park when I took this shot.

January 13th 2010 - Everton Water Tower

Awoke to yet another fresh blanket of snow in Liverpool. Took this black and white image of the Grade 2 listed Water Tower on Everton Brow. Great views of the city from the top of the Brow (not today though - far too misty). I like the juxtaposition of the old and the new buildings in this scene and the fact that something as standard as a water tower is built in such an impressive and imposing style, with great attention to architectural detail.

January 12th 2010 - Snowballs at Whitefield Cricket Club

And still the snow remains...Found these two giant snowballs on the pitch at Whitefield Cricket Club next to the National Wildflower Centre. The green pathway shows the journey taken by one of the balls, all the way from the club house out into the field. It was as though the huge ball had made its own way there, or perhaps Andy Goldsworthy was responsible. I liked the curve of the path; leading your eye into the picture.

January 11th 2010 - Penny Lane (A Year in the Life of...)

So, as this is a Liverpool blog, you may be surprised it has taken me 11 days to mention The Beatles... I was out walking this afternoon and noticed that the road sign on Penny Lane was free from graffiti. This is quite a rarity as it is usually covered with names of fans from across the globe who visit the place made famous by The Beatles' song. I've photographed the sign, with its colourful additions, on a few occasions (Once when the letters had been altered to spell Benny Hill!) and thought it might be interesting to take a photograph on the 11th of each month this year for the blog, so that you can check back to see how it evolves.

January 10th 2010 - Winter Scene at Holt's Field

It feels like most of the south of the city has taken up residence at Holt's Field since the snow fell and stayed. I liked the contrast of the monochrome snow and trees with the red coat worn by one of the walkers in this photograph. Some thawing this evening but more snow showers are on their way.

January 9th 2010 - The Oratory

In the shadow of Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral is this classically styled sandstone building, The Oratory. Rarely opened and no longer used for the purpose for which it was built, it provides a stately backdrop for Tracey Emin's sculpture, The Roman Standard - a tiny bird perched on top of a four metre high bronze pole. A tribute to the city's Liver Bird, the sculpture is affectionately known as Chick on a Stick by many locals. I took this shot twenty minutes before sundown.

January 8th 2010 - Springwood

Liverpool is still under a blanket of icy white. Passing by Springwood Cemetery I noticed how peaceful this corner of ancient resting places looked covered by undisturbed snow in the late afternoon sunshine, with the chapel of rest behind. Not a place I would usually walk through, I was pleasantly surprised by the tranquility I found when I ventured in to take this photograph.

January 7th 2010 - Peter Pan Statue in the Snow

I've always loved the detail on this statue of Peter Pan in Sefton Park. At first light this morning, his raised arms looked like snow covered branches and blended with the trees behind. Liverpool remains under a blanket of thick snow and ice, but sunny spells are forecast for later.

January 6th 2010 - Sledging on Holt's Field

A scene well known to many, Holt's Field in Mossley Hill - the place to be with a sledge when it snows and school's out in Liverpool. Great views over Mossley Hill and Allerton then across to the River and the distant factories beyond. A strange early afternoon light reflected by the powdery snow (Image best viewed magnified).

January 5th 2010 - Fairy Glen at Sefton Park

Heavy snowfall overnight in Liverpool. Took this photograph at the Fairy Glen underneath the Iron Bridge in Sefton Park. Liked the contrast of the bright white snow against the deep green moss and exposed conifer branches. A magical place - it lives up to its name.

January 4th 2010 - Welcome to our World...

Bright, clear afternoon on a walk by the River Mersey at Otterspool. This blue metal globe propped against a tree caught my eye. Adjacent to this is the original 'Welcome' entrance sign for the International Garden Festival held in Liverpool in 1984. They reminded me of something long forgotten, out of place and uncared for. On the positive side, nature has once again reclaimed this spot - for the time being anyhow.

January 3rd 2010 - Twilight through Sefton Park

This path through Sefton Park was lit by gas lamps during the Victorian era. Having remained in darkness for decades, replica lighting has recently been installed. This gives a sense of how the park would have appeared at twilight in the 1800's. It was cold and crisp with a cloudless sky when I took this photograph at around 5pm this evening.

January 2nd 2010 - Winter's Afternoon at Sudley House

A cold grey day with driving rain and sleet. Took this black and white shot of Sudley House through the trees from the disused stables at the rear of the Art Gallery. An atmospheric location, especially in the rain.

January 1st 2010 - Sunrise on a new decade

I felt this was an appropriate start to my project. A beautiful, peaceful morning, with frost underfoot and the first sun appearing through the trees in Calderstones Park.