Behind the unassuming crimson brick facade of a gable-roofed flat in Birkenhead, England, sits a house like no different. The one clue passersby would have had, till lately, was a pair of hand-sculpted figurative columns that flanked the picket entrance door. However to step inside this nook flat close to Liverpool is to be transported into the imaginative world of Ron Gittins.
A gifted artist who additionally dabbled in native appearing teams and music, Gittins was a fancy character. He took day jobs right here and there, however he was far more inclined to work for himself, on his personal phrases. Anecdotally, he was recognized for his zest for all times and dedication to do nice issues; his sister recounts that he as soon as exclaimed to their brother, “I will not be ignored!” His creativity shone by way of in each aspect of his life, and his residence isn’t any exception.
In a floor flooring rented flat, which he let in 1986, Gittins created monumental hearths within the shapes of a lion, minotaur, and relief-adorned Roman altar. He painted shiny murals impressed by historical Greece, Rome, and Egypt, together with a central hallway adorned with hieroglyphs. The columns on the entrance door have been harking back to palatial stone depictions of pharaohs and deities.
Gittins turned to the period of English romantic portraiture in a single room’s Georgian period-inspired murals, which characteristic framed work in a row above an ornate fireside. And within the toilet, the partitions swim with aquatic-themed photographs.
“Although Ron was extremely proud of his artwork, he generally refused entry to landlords, maintenance staff, and any kind of officialdom in order to protect the fantasy world he had created for himself,” says an announcement from Wirral Arts & Tradition Neighborhood Land Belief, which now owns and manages the property. It provides, “After all, not every property owner would allow their tenant to build an epic concrete lion fireplace in their living room.”
Gittins’ tenancy settlement permitted him to “decorate the interior of the property to his own taste and the external porch in classical style without the prior written consent of the Landlord.” He additionally had entry to the backyard, which he was in a position to panorama at his personal expense.
Few folks have been granted the privilege of seeing Gittins’ creations throughout his lifetime, as he was protecting of his artwork and most popular to take care of his privateness. He continued to gather distinctive objects and rework his residence into his final fantasy, his self-described “villa.” Then, following his sudden loss of life in 2019, its destiny was instantly unsure.
In December 2021, artist Jan Williams—who can be Gittins’ niece—together with Chris Teasdale of The Caravan Gallery, launched a marketing campaign to avoid wasting the flat. Together with a devoted group of volunteers comprising household, associates, and specialists in arts and heritage, a last-minute buy at public sale was profitable in March 2023. Since then, the group has continued caring for the installations and sifting by way of the artist’s eclectic assortment of books, magazines, movies, garments, furnishings, and trinkets.
The Wirral Arts & Tradition Neighborhood Land Belief continues to catalogue Gittins’ belongings and work to protect this distinctive setting for years to come back. Study extra and take a digital tour on the group’s web site.
