Bridlington-based artist John Rowley is currently exhibiting a striking collection of large framed digital artworks at Meka Gallery on High Street in the Old Town. The exhibition, which runs until 2nd December, showcases Rowley’s thought-provoking series titled American Rust.

American Rust appearing on High Street in Bridlington Old Town until December — One of the quirky images created by John Rowley. Image. John Rowley.

Before turning to visual art, John worked in the music industry as a studio engineer, contributing to albums by The Smiths and The Beautiful South. His latest work originates from his collaboration with the band Ten Million Aliens on their 2018 album Road Trip (Fall of the Rebel Angels).

The project began when the album’s original working title, American Rust, inspired John to explore the theme through imagery of abandoned American cars. During his research, he discovered Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s dramatic 1562 painting The Fall of the Rebel Angels, a depiction of the battle between good and evil from the Book of Revelation. The symbolism proved irresistible and the album was retitled, incorporating the 16th-century masterpiece.

Rowley’s artwork blends 1950s American scrap cars with medieval and classical landscapes, creating surreal digital collages. “It’s painstaking work in Photoshop,” he said. “Matching the perspective of a wrecked Buick with a Renaissance horizon isn’t as easy as you’d think!”

Each piece is loaded with metaphor and social commentary. “When we began this project, we had no idea where American politics would end up—now we know,” John added.