The Land Across the Water is an exhibition of recent paintings and drawings by Liverpool-based landscape painter Alexis Butterfield, exploring the Wirral and Chester through his distinctive contemporary eye.

Initially trained in printmaking in Manchester, Alexis returned to fine art following a 25-year career in architecture, historic conservation and building diverse neighbourhoods. Since moving to Liverpool in 2022, he has developed an energetic practice of exploring and drawing the city and its surroundings, shared through his project Take a Line for a Walk.

Alexis’ work focuses on the buildings, places and urban landscapes around him. While famous landmarks feature, he is particularly drawn to humbler, overlooked places, bringing them back into the light. His architectural background informs a visual language combining strong colour, figurative abstraction and dramatic lighting with traditional and graphic drawing techniques.

The paintings and drawings in this exhibition record Alexis’ personal exploration of the Wirral and Chester over the past year, capturing their diversity, history, sadness and beauty. The title takes inspiration from the writing of W. G. Sebald, reflecting both Alexis’ literal journey across the water and Sebald’s interest in place, loss, otherness and memory.

For this first exhibition from his tours of the area, Alexis focuses on views of New Brighton, Birkenhead, Port Sunlight and Chester, revealing contrasting urban and rural landscapes and the changing fortunes of these places.

Artwork is available to purchase from the Everyman Staff.