Colmans, Barbour, Little Mix and more feature in new artwork celebrating the cream of South Shields

From Jade and Perrie of Little Mix fame to Chris and Rosie Ramsey and Marsden rock to Toney Minchella’s, all star in the striking South Shields print which is being released by design company Lines Behind.

Illustrator James Dixon released a North Shields print last month that sold out three times and sparked a huge demand for a South Shields version.

The artist has been inundated with enquiries, so much so, people have been ordering the print on his website before it was even released.

James has now revealed the finished article, which will be available either unframed or framed in A4, A3 and A1 sizes from 7pm on Friday, May 29.

The businessman says he’s been overwhelmed by the response to the stacked illustrations. “I did one for North Shields last month and it went off, the demand was crazy,” he explained. “DJ Patrick Topping (who lives in North Shields) ordered five and it really got noticed. People soon started asking for a South Shields one and I put a blank poster on the website saying the South Shields was ‘coming soon’ and people were buying it from that before they had even seen it.

“I really try and capture as much as I can in the illustrations.”

What started as James drawing greetings cards in his spare room has grown into a successful design and illustration business. As well as his original stand in Tynemouth Market, which is closed at the minute, James’ greeting cards are stocked in Paperchase, Scribbler and Fenwick and he works with high-profile clients including Greggs.

His cards are often tongue-in-cheek references to current affairs and recently have featured Boris Johnson, the Queen and Dominic Cummings. They’ve struck such a chord with people that the business has sold 37,000 cards during lockdown, with orders coming in from around the world.

His prints, many of which celebrate North East towns and cities, are also proving popular with Durham and Sunderland next to feature in the series.

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