'Black Rock & Other Wonders'

Flags of Myth and Memory

Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton.

Spanning the flagpoles at Fort Perch Rock, Landlines Studio present a series of eight flags, each one a signal from the shore, shaped by the stories, textures, and tides of New Brighton. Created using natural pigments gathered from the fort itself; sandstone, rust, brick dust and burnt wood, the flags carry the colours and materials of place. Through mark-making and abstraction, the work draws on local myths and half-remembered histories, stories passed down, weathered by time and memory.

Taking inspiration from the semaphore signals once flown at Bidston Hill, the flags reimagine these acts of communication, transforming old messages through contemporary storytelling.

“Each flag is a tapestry of tales; myths and truths stitched together and brought to life through the pigments of the Fort. They are a convergence of moments spanning generations, from whispers of smugglers and mysterious mermaids to traces of a secret underground munitions store and wartime industry, weaving together fragments of stories from New Brighton’s past.”

A few years ago, we began building a small New Brighton collection of foraged things, scraps of rope, sand, rust, stones, and a gallery of texture photographs and colour references. For a long time, those finds sat quietly in a box waiting for the right moment. So, when Patrick from Art in Liverpool and organiser of the Independents Biennial, asked us about potential sites we’d like to exhibit during the festival, we practically jumped at the chance to bring this bag of stories to life at Fort Perch Rock.

A Brief History

Stationed at the mouth of the Mersey, Fort Perch Rock was built in the 1820s as a coastal defence battery to guard the river and protect the vital port of Liverpool. Often called The Little Gibraltar of the Mersey, it once housed heavy guns and a garrison, and during both World Wars it stood ready as part of Britain’s coastal defences. Over the years it’s been a fortress, a museum, a live music venue, and now, for a while at least, host to new signals from the shore.

Working from heritage sites has become a passion for us both. Having the chance to gather new materials from in and around the fort and merging them with our original finds felt like the perfect way to mark our first public work. We’re so fortunate to have access to these remarkable places.

We ground the raw materials into fine pigments, made paint, and using the stories, built each flag by hand. Each piece began with a collection of historical facts and local myths, drifting through generations, some true, some imagined, but all deeply evocative of place.

1. The Blackrock Mermaid

2. Mother Redcap

3. Magazines

4. Black Rock

5. Tower Ballroom

6. The Lighthouse

7. Fort Perch Rock

8. The Arcade

We then deconstructed each flag into eight sections and reassembled them, so that every flag carries a fragment of its siblings, blending stories and memories into one another.

Emblazoned over each flag is neon pink morse code that spells out a single word.

1. L

2. O

3. R

4. E

5. L

6. A

7. N

8. D

   
   

‘LORELAND.’  For us, this conjures a landscape woven from stories, folklore and land fused together. It’s also a small nod to our own family roots: both of our dads served in the RAF, and Angie’s dad was a Telegraphist. The morse code feels like a quiet homage to that legacy, and to the ways we pass messages through time.

Morse code has a special link here, too, Fort Perch Rock, like the nearby Bidston Hill, was once part of a network of coastal signals and communication systems. For us, these new flags continue that conversation in a different language, keeping stories alive in the wind.

A Living Work

These flags are made to shift and change. Over the coming weeks, the wind, salt, and rain will leave new marks, adding to our pigments and prints. A living reminder that stories, like places, are ever changing and never finished.

Inside the Fort

Coming soon, a small collection of new works will be installed in the Fort’s café, extending the conversation indoors and giving visitors more chances to sit with the pigments, the place, and each other.

Visit Us

Black Rock and Other Wonders runs from 19th July to 14th September 2025 at Fort Perch Rock. We invite you to come by, see the flags, grab a coffee or something to eat, and tag us in your photos. We’d love to see what stories and treasures you find there.

BLACK ROCK AND OTHER WONDERS - UNRAVELLED

'Black Rock and Other Wonders - Unravelled' is the continuation of our original collection of eight flags. After spending two months at Fort Perch Rock, battered by sea winds and salty air, the flags were carefully taken down and returned to our studio. We always intended to exhibit them in their weathered state, as collaborating with nature has been a central theme in our practice.

"As artists, we've learned to let go, and to accept that the work evolves beyond our control, and that impermanence is part of its life."

They have been forever changed by the elements, shaped by salt, wind, rain, and the passing of time. Nature has added its own layers whilst stripping away the pigments they were made with, transforming their surfaces and deepening their connection to place. Initially, we considered showcasing the flags in their new form in New Brighton, but ultimately chose our studio for this exhibition, inviting visitors to encounter them afresh, as well as a new collection of smaller works that preserve the integrity of the original flags before their transformation. This exhibition also included our research, the myths and stories that inspired and informed the work, behind the scenes photographs, and the original pigment collection gathered from the fort and surrounding New Brighton area, that was used to create the work. We were also thrilled that Fort owner Doug Darroch accepted our invitation to do a short talk as part of the evening.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and experienced the works in this new context.

Alongside the main exhibition, we’ve also created eight miniature works inspired by the larger composite flags. Each piece measures 8 x 8 inches and features the same Morse-code letter found on its full-sized counterpart. These works honour the original pigments and designs, preserving them in their unweathered state, capturing the essence of the flags before the elements reshaped them.

 In addition to the miniatures, we've also created two prints based on the Morse-code "L" flags. If you’re interested in owning a piece of the project’s story, both the prints and mini originals are available to purchase online.

8 original mini canvases available, and the two prints below.