Factory Girls, 2011 (refurbished 2024)
Between 2010 and 2011, I created and installed Factory Girls for Unlocking Salford Quays, a project commissioned by The Lowry to mark its 10th anniversary. The work comprises three life-size figures, cast in iron and finished with vitreous enamel, referencing Salford Quays’ industrial heritage and the vital contributions of female factory workers at Metropolitan Vickers during the Second World War.
Once the largest factory in Western Europe, Metropolitan Vickers was central to Britain’s electrical engineering industry. The figures’ forms are inspired by products manufactured there, and each—Doreen, Margaret, and Edie—is named after a former employee. Their distinctive colours and surfaces evoke the wartime era, celebrating the resilience and significance of women’s roles in the war effort.
Following repair works at their original site, the sculptures were carefully restored and relocated within Salford Quays. Thanks to the efforts of Catherine Brereton from Salford City Council’s regeneration team, and Kate Charnock, who oversaw the refurbishment, the Factory Girls have been returned to their original condition and remain a lasting part of the area’s cultural landscape.
It’s a fantastic feeling to see the work refreshed and looking splendid after 14 years.
I have very fond memories of my time working in Salford with the team at The Lowry, and it’s wonderful to see Factory Girls given new life in the city of Salford.
Location – Salford Quays, Salford
Materials – Cast Iron and Powder Coating