Tony Brown: He’s got the whole world at his feet

May 28 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

He will be the most down-trodden artist in the world when the dandy doodles on his shoes join the great ports of Liverpool and New York. David Charters reports.

THE softly-spoken artist is sitting on the floor in the style of Buddha. Those who know him well will think this is an appropriate pose.

For here we have a fellow, silver-haired with a gentle, blue- eyed smile, who is a lover of peace and wisdom, as well as that special understanding, which comes from listening to others.

With these qualities, he looks at a face and, between blinks, sees how its mood and character could be held in six or seven superbly executed lines – with a light sprinkling of dots added for emphasis.

It’s a fine gift he has for capturing a likeness in such an apparently simple way. But don’t be deceived by that. There is genius in making things seem easy. Other artists could sweat and strain and still fail to achieve what he does.

But now Tony Brown’s thoughts are drifting across the great ocean, 3,500 miles of swirling water between two cities – both settled by witty, fast-tongued people, sentimental and cynical in equal measure, who love words and music and the promises of every tomorrow.

Liverpudlians and New Yorkers are brothers in spirit, or "sisters" as some would prefer – whether sucking spaghetti from a fork or fingering chips from a bag, as they bustle and bicker under their own shimmering monuments to God and commerce.

Down the years, many millions of feet have stepped from the quayside here, beneath a sullen sky – not to rub soles on land again until greeting the sunshine of Ellis Island, New York.

Yes, feet lead us through life. So let us try and walk on water in our own way.

And, with his new shoes, the man sitting on the floor has reduced the mighty Atlantic to just a few inches.

"Aren’t they wonderful?" says his wife, as Tony lifts a pair of training shoes from a plastic bag. On the inside is his ingenious "doodle" of the New York waterfront and on the outside his Liverpool waterfront.

These trainers and a whole new Brown range are to be introduced to the world today (may 28) at an exhib- ition at Microzine, the "lifestyle" and fashion store on Liverpool’s Bold Street. They will then remain on display and available for purchase.

The launch of work by Tony Brown is a big event these days in this city, which he says has been the driving force behind his career. Tony, an old boy of the Blessed Sacrament School, Walton, is a true patriot. "I love Liverpool," he says. "I know we sometimes let ourselves down, but I love it all the same."

His big moment came last year when the city reached the 800th anniversary of King John granting its Royal Charter, establishing the port. When the politicians and bureaucrats were arguing about how best to hook those celebrations to this year’s European Capital of Culture, Tony was at his easel preparing the 100 Heads Thinking As One exhibition – his portraits of living Merseysiders, who have made an important contribution to local life.

So far, it has been shown at St George’s Hall, both cathedrals, the Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead and the atrium of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo building, on Old Hall Street. It has also been taken on tours of schools and other venues. A promotional video followed, featuring Tony and some of his subjects.

Tony’s father, John, had been a commercial artist, working for department stores and theatres, before the bills started pressing the family budget and his life as an insurance man beckoned.

The family crossed the river and Tony attended St John’s School, New Ferry, before study- ing at an arts and crafts college on Whetstone Lane, Birkenhead.

But – thank the Lord – Tony is not an academic. He believes that the real measure of an artist’s talent is his work. You want to hang his paintings on the wall, not his certificates.