Power Shoes

Power Shoes is a tribute to the craftsmanship, resilience, and quiet power embedded in traditional trades. This multi-layered silkscreen print, enriched with Letratone patterning, reflects my fascination with the beauty of functional tools and the hands that wield them. Inspired by a visit to a now-closed cobbler’s shop in my local town, the work preserves a moment of skilled labour - an art form often overlooked, yet fundamental to the rhythm of everyday life on the British high street.

At the centre of the composition, Cindy, the cobbler, grips a nail gun with poised confidence. The curling lead, seemingly suspended in midair, adds movement to the piece, echoing the fluidity of action within the workshop. Her hands, firm and assured, reflect a lifetime of expertise - the physical embodiment of strength, precision, and care. These details anchor the work in a celebration of manual skill: the kind of artistry rarely afforded the recognition it deserves.

The backdrop is a wash of rich orange-yellow tone that carries the warmth and energy of a working environment, evocative of the light spilling through the shop or the burnished glow of well-used tools. Behind Cindy, the stacked rows of key blanks add another layer of intrigue - silent, orderly, waiting. They represent potential, transformation, and the idea that even utilitarian objects hold significance through use.

The bold lettering of POWER, drawn from the shopfront signage, reinforces the theme of strength - of trade, of routine, of the craftspeople who shape the fabric of local life. In a high street landscape where independent businesses are increasingly at risk, Power Shoes serves as both a record and a tribute. The shop may be gone, but through this work, its presence, atmosphere, and quiet industriousness endure. It is local shops artwork that honours the spirit of community spaces and the labour that sustains them.

By using Letratone - a technique I frequently incorporate into my printmaking - I bring a sense of texture and tactility to the piece, echoing the very materials and surfaces that define the cobbler’s craft. The graphic, almost pop-art sensibility elevates an everyday moment to something monumental, highlighting the artistry in manual labour and the human connection between maker and object.

At its core, Power Shoes is about appreciation - of expertise, tools, and tradition. It captures the essence of a workspace where every object serves a purpose and every action carries the weight of skill honed over years. More than a snapshot of a trade, it stands as a testament to the unseen labour behind the everyday - a piece of print art celebrating local life and urging viewers to recognise the artistry in work that sustains communities.