HMG Paints is combining its passion for Art and the local environment by supporting an upcoming exhibition entitled “River Stories” focusing on the River Irk, the very river that runs through the heart of the companies Manchester site.
The exhibition being produced by Fiona Brehony, in collaboration with Liz Wewiora and Many Hands Craft Collective and in partnership with Manchester Histories, commences on 16th February 2026 at The Hub, Manchester Central Library.
This multidisciplinary exhibition explores the River Irk through sound, image, and community storytelling. It will combine field recordings (including from HMG Paints), collaborative documentary film, and creative works from Many Hands Craft Collective, all rooted in the river's industrial, social, and ecological significance.
John Falder, HMG Paints Chairman, commented:
“We’re delighted to be supporting this incredible project which brings together artists, community groups, and heritage organisations to explore the environmental, historical, and emotional dimensions of this vital local waterway. It's been a pleasure to welcome Fiona onto our site over the last year or so and we’re excited to see the result of her work and delve deeper into the rich history of the River Irk.”
Having a river running through a paint site might not sound like a perfect scenario but HMG have embraced the river as a key feature since moving to Riverside Works in 1958.
In fact, the business even won an award for its work with the river having been awarded the Waterside Regeneration Award in the Northwest Business Environment 2003 scheme, organised by the Mersey Basin Campaign.
Like the river and the local environment, HMG
has also been supportive of the local arts and is well known for its iconic ‘Dreadnowt’ sculpture by artist Jonathan Woolfenden, which was erected in 1993, at the entrance of the New Era Woods, which were planted by HMG in the 1980’s.
However, HMG’s engagement with the arts doesn’t stop there, the business also hosted Mancunian artist Max Hague who developed a series of works utilising salvaged paints and materials from HMG’s production. They also collaborated with Interactive Arts students from the Manchester School of Art, Ryan Higgins and Adam Renshaw as part of their project to explore the colours and history of the Adoration of the Magi Tapestry which was designed by Edward Burne-Jones and made by William Morris in 1894.
When it comes to Manchester Central Library this isn’t HMG’s first engagement with the landmark building as HMG also supplied over 6000 litres of paint for the refurbishment of the library in 2014, including for the iconic Wolfson Reading Room. The decorative coatings produced by HMG and used at the library were the launchpad of a new business area which has seen significant growth since 2014.
"It's been a privilege to work with HMG Paints over the past year, recording the extraordinary sounds of their water-based paint machinery and the river itself at their Riverside Works site. These recordings form a vital part of the exhibition's soundscape, connecting the industrial and ecological life of the River Irk,” said Fiona on the exhibition.
“I'm particularly grateful to HMG for welcoming me to install and document a durational cyanotype work at the site - a piece that responds to the river's flows, the changing light, and the paint factory's relationship with the waterway. HMG's decades of environmental custodianship of the Irk, including their Waterside Regeneration Award, is an important part of the river's ongoing story that we're celebrating in this exhibition. Their support makes it possible to bring these layered histories - industrial, ecological, and community-based - to public life at Manchester Central Library."
A durational cyanotype is an art project using the slow, extended UV light exposure of the cyanotype process to create images that reveal over time, often representing evolving data or natural processes. The cyanotype produced by Fiona at HMG paints will be featured in the exhibition for visitors to see. Visitors will be able to access the exhibition at Manchester Histories Hub located on the lower ground floor of Manchester Central Library.
