Issue 60: artist’s secret, decades-long, creative endeavour gets protection
Barely anyone knew about the striking, visionary interior of this Victorian flat until after the artist’s death.
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It was around 18 months ago that I first learned about Ron Gittins’ brilliant and bizarre home, and the campaign to save it.
This morning, I learned that it had been granted Grade II listing, a designation that recognises its ‘special interest’ and ensures it can be protected for future generations. It is the first example of ‘outsider art’ to be nationally listed by Historic England.
Gittins rented a flat at 8 Silverdale Road in Birkenhead, northwest England, from 1986 until his death in 2019, aged 79. People in the neighbourhood knew he was a little eccentric thanks to the ‘historic costumes’ he wore when out and about. But he kept his home life largely private. (His family say this was probably out of fear that he’d get in trouble for so comprehensively redecorating a property that he didn’t own.)
From the outside, the semi-detached late 19th Century building looks much the same as the others in the terrace. But inside, the ground floor flat – now known as ‘Ron’s Place’ – is an artistic alternative universe. It’s painted throughout with immersive murals of historic themes, features two hand-sculpted fireplaces, and an ancient bread oven in the kitchen. His passion for history is said to have been inspired by a trip to Pompeii as a young man.
Gittins fan and frontman of the band Pulp, Jarvis Cocker, said: “A small number of people on this planet have known for a while that Ron’s Place is a very special place – but from now on, it is official. The work of one unique gentleman in the north of England has been recognised nationally. Globally even. Hallelujah!!”
Gittins attended the Laird School of Art in Birkenhead for a brief time and studied drama at a local college. His adult working life was varied, with jobs often short-lived. At one point he worked as a self-employed artist under the name ‘Minstrel Enterprises’, painting murals and portraits, but had limited success.
While he shouldn’t be classed as an amateur artist, his style is what could be described as ‘naive’. His flat is considered an English exemplar of large-scale outsider art, a genre defined by the artist’s own vision, created without an audience in mind, and without regard to the mainstream art world.
Catherine Croft, Director of the Twentieth Century Society, said: “At Ron’s Place, one man’s extraordinary creative vision summoned creatures from Greek mythology and the architecture of ancient Rome to a humble ground-floor flat in Birkenhead. Proof, if needed, that great art isn’t confined just to established galleries and collections.”
After his death, a charitable trust of volunteers and family set out to safeguard Gittins’ legacy. Initially continuing to rent the flat, and then raising money to buy it when the landlord put it up for sale. It is now owned by the Wirral Arts and Culture Community Land Trust.
The property at number 8 Silverdale Road is a two-story orange brick building with an attic and basement. It originally featured a full height staircase, but this was partially removed when the property was divided into four flats.
The ground floor flat – Ron’s Place – has a full-depth entrance hall with rooms off each side. The front door opens into a small lobby which is abstractly painted in blues, oranges, and pinks, overdrawn with dark lines. The entrance hall features an Egyptian tomb theme, including hieroglyphs, a sphinx, and depictions of Cleopatra and Anubis.
The front left-hand reception room was Gittins' workroom. It has a Greek theme – including depictions of its famous philosophers – and is dominated by a three-metre-high minotaur head fireplace. The right-hand reception room was Gittins' living room and features a Roman theme with frescoes inspired by those at Pompeii, Stabiae, and Herculaneum. The ceiling is entirely painted with a celestial warrior theme, and the fireplace is a three-metre-tall roaring lion's head.
Gittins' bedroom is decorated in a naval theme and features a portrait of Lord Nelson, believed to be copied from a pub sign, and a portrait of Lady Hamilton, believed to be modelled on a woman Gittins knew named Josie.
The bathroom features an aquatic theme, and in the kitchen, Gittins' adapted the fireplace into a historic Roman or Middle Eastern bread oven.
Jan Williams, Gittins’ niece and Chair of the Wirral Arts and Culture Community Land Trust, said: “I believe Ron would be made up and very proud at all the attention he's receiving, and thrilled his work is being recognised and appreciated. He only kept it secret because you're not really supposed to turn your rented flat into a Roman villa complete with epic concrete fireplaces, are you?
“I feel sad to have missed out on so much of my Uncle Ron's complicated but intriguing story in the past, but it's good to know his creativity will inspire future generations.”