Magnus Rodwell, the Bermondsey local who left his finance career in the City to follow his passion for painting London street scenes, has opened a new exhibition and shop in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
Magnus, a 54-year-old self-taught impressionist painter, loves to uncover the ‘urban stories’ and ‘hidden histories’ behind his subjects- the ordinary, everyday street scenes of London.
What began as capturing the streets and hidden corners of Bermondsey, where Magnus has lived since 1997, has turned into a full-time career.
Until 29 December, Magnus is proudly running a temporary solo exhibition and shop in the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, in the downstairs unit that was formerly the O2 mobile shop.
The shop, coined Hidden London, opened in early October. Magnus is exhibiting and selling his original paintings, prints in all sizes, and affordable greeting cards.
Despite coming from an artistic family, Magnus’s venture into art was not straightforward and reflects his resilience, passion and ‘nothing to lose’ mentality.
After a successful career as a stockbroker on Mansell Street, just behind the Tower of London, and later with several large banks, he was made redundant in 2011.
Whilst seeking a new role, Magnus bought a set of paints, to keep him occupied whilst looking for jobs. Deep down, he knew that he was not fulfilled in his financial career and didn’t enjoy the high-stress office environment.
He said: “I started painting to keep sane and as a distraction from the job search, but it turned into a creative career. It is so different from number-crunching and being a number in a large organisation.”
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In between jobs and with nothing to lose, he picked up the paintbrush and started, focusing on street scenes in his local area, Bermondsey.
Magnus turned some of his paintings into prints, which he took to art venues in Borough and gift shops on Bermondsey Street, where they quickly took off. His first solo exhibition was in the Vietnamese cafe, Caphe House, on Bermondsey Street, where there was “a real buzz” for his work,
He said: “The prints were ideal for Bermondsey Street- people love where they live and hold a deep nostalgia for the street and the area.”
Magnus shared the inspiration for Hidden London as wanting to reveal the small but fascinating stories about where we live, noting that many people “don’t know half the stories about where they are located.”
He said: “It makes people connect with the art more. It’s not just a scene of Bermondsey Street- it’s someone saying, ‘Hey, my family used to do this or that,’ or, ‘I’ve been living here and enjoying the ambience but I know nothing about it.’”
This philosophy is what drew him to street scenes, rather than portraits or grand landscapes. He learns about the history of the area and focuses on the everyday person on the street, sharing the stories they have to tell.
He said: “I love when people can reiterate the stories behind my paintings to visitors in their home. For example, Hartley’s Jam Factory where fruit was shipped from Kent to the bustling factory on Green Walk, just off Tower Bridge Road.”
Magnus expressed a deep sense of pride for where he lives in the SE1 and SE16 area, something he is now able to showcase and share through his Surrey Quays shop.
The opportunity for the shop came after he was named a highly commended finalist in the Southwark Business Excellence Awards. Through this accolade, he met one of the heads of British Land, the organisation behind the Canada Water Development, who he invited to his solo exhibition in Courage Yard, next to Tower Bridge.
He said: “This whole experience has taught me that dreams can come true and i just need to keep persevering. All year I have had knock-backs from venues, so I am very glad to be here.”
Describing the art, Magnus said: “I have a vibrant take on London and I use acrylic paint to give my paintings an almost child-like cartoon-y feel.”
“All my paintings have a nostalgic element to me, and I want to capture the memories and be a custodian of where we live and the community- to give us a flashback for centuries to come.”
Now, his artistic lens has captured scenes from all over London. He has painted St Saviour’s Dock, Tower Bridge, Shad Thames, Snowsfields and further afield in Marylebone High Street, Paddington and Oxford Circus.
His clientele is also as diverse as his subject matter, with his paintings making it back to all corners of the country and the world.
He said: “I know my paintings resonate with people who have lived in London and then go back to their home countries and want to take a bit of London with them.
“Surrey Quays Shopping Centre will eventually be knocked down, as part of the Canada Water Master plan, but it is refreshing to see temporary units filling the space in the meantime.”
Magnus loves when his paintings sell, but says that the idea is for also enjoy his art. He welcomes anyone to his shop, whether you are looking for a new piece, or would just like to browse and learn more about his work.
For one of Magnus’s pieces, you can expect to pay around £150 to £180 for a colour print, while pencil drawings are cheaper, starting at £39 for an unframed piece. Greetings cards are £2.99 online or £2 in the shop.
If you do head down to his shop, quote ‘Bermondsey Biscuit’ for 15% off your chosen print.
Hidden London by M.Rodwell, Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Redriff Rd, London SE16 7LL
Tuesday – Wednesday: 12 noon till 6pm
Thursday – Saturday: 11am – 6pm
Sunday: 11am – 4pm
