Wick's 'Wacaday' moment as Timmy Mallett paints iconic Black Stairs during a visit
Television broadcaster, entertainer and artist Timmy Mallett brought his watercolour paint and brushes to Wick to create a study of the town's famous Black Stairs.
Timmy cycled throughout the UK over 2022 and has been posting some of his memories of the 5000-mile trip on his Twitter feed that included a recent post about the Black Stairs in Wick – previously painted by LS Lowry in 1937 in a work that fetched nearly £900K at auction in 2013.
Timmy said: "Wick is one of my favourite places in the far north. There’s so much to explore and paint and the people are welcoming, smiling and full of stories." The Twitter post appeared on Friday (December 30) on Timmy's page and garnered over 16,000 views with one Wick resident writing below it: "Your water colours are a joy to behold. Haste ye back."
Timmy's agent said that, although the original painting was sold to a private collector for an undisclosed sum, there are prints available on his website priced at £145 which can be found at: www.mallettspallette.co.uk/shop/blackstepswick
The description of the work on Mallett Fine Art says: "L S Lowry spent holidays at his aunt's house in Pulteney, Wick and found inspiration in the townscapes designed by Thomas Telford.
"His painting of the black Steps is still recognisable and I enjoyed discovering his viewpoint from the cobbles street above the bustling harbour."
Timmy said that he was inspired by artists who found great vistas around the UK and cycled nearly 5000 miles around the coast from March to August 2022 in order to paint some of these scenes. "It’s one of my favourite places in the far north and I found lots to inspire me. I loved my stay at Mackay’s Hotel," he added.
Timmy Mallett may be an accomplished artist but he is perhaps better known as the former presenter of children's TV programmes in the 1980s such as Wide Awake Club and Wacaday. His legion of fans, mostly middle-aged now, have followed his cycling travails across the UK which include YouTube videos from around Wick and other parts of Caithness.
Here are several videos from his cycle journey through the county. (More videos can be found at Timmy's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@brillianttv/videos)
Lowry painting in Wick
Cycling the shortest street in the world
Banksy in Thurso
Thrumster station on the Highland Railway line
Thurso Acks vs Groats FC
