Geoff Butterworth’s Flog It episode to air on Tuesday

'Away from it all... Runswick Bay' and 'Our Grandad' by Geoff Butterworth

Rochdale artist Geoff Butterworth will be appearing on the BBC1 programme Flog it on Tuesday 5 August on BBC1 at 4:30pm.

Geoff said: “I am a bit nervous about watching it because I don’t know how things will come across.”

Geoff was contacted by the BBC after he was recommended to them by a gallery in Clitheroe. They were filming a show and particularly wanted to speak to an artist.

Geoff said: “They came to my gallery to meet me at first but it is only small. They were anticipating about nine people being involved so I suggested we go to Towneley Hall where they have an exhibition of my work.”

For the show, Geoff and presenter Paul Martin sat and painted pictures from photos they took.

“It is a strange thing doing TV because you have a lot of people stood around watching like the crew and the producer and everyone watching at home doesn’t see that,” said Geoff.

The episode was filmed in 2012 and was planned to be shown earlier this year but due to the number of episodes filmed, Geoff’s episode was
pushed back.

“I was told it was going to be shown in April and then not long before it was due to be shown, I was told it wasn’t going to be on. They have made four episodes about Blackpool when they originally planned on doing one so I think because of how much they have done, this episode just got pushed back,” said Geoff.

This is the first time Geoff has made an appearance on TV and he is unsure yet if it is something he will do again. He said: “I have done demonstrations for people before but have never done television before. I don’t know if I will do it again. I think I will have to watch this first.”

Geoff grew up in Littleborough and started painting the moors and houses of the area in 1980 after a serious motorcycle accident ended his career in engineering.

Since those early years Geoff has won many major awards in national competitions and been commissioned throughout the world, from America to Australia and large collections in many parts of England.

Geoff's paintings can be bought via the Rochdale Online Department Store:

http://store.rochdaleonline.co.uk/Geoff-Butterworth-Fine-Arts