Archive: This article describes Buxton Museum in 2019. Its former Terrace Road premises closed in 2023. The museum reopened in a temporary home next to Buxton Library in October 2026; see the museum for current exhibitions and visiting information.
Two artists, two interpretations, one unique place. The scale-like spine of Chrome Hill and Park House Hill, known as Dragons Back, singles out this areas uniqueness. It sits amongst the range of hills that form a natural amphitheatre where light and sound move in and through the escarpment.
This is where local artists Tony Wild and Brian Holdcroft would situate themselves for around twelve months and create the body of work on display at this colourful exhibition at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery.
340 million years of history beneath our feet…
Chrome Hill is steeped in history – layers of it.
The limestone ridges of the upper Dove Valley formed in Carboniferous seas around 340 million years ago. The British Geological Survey describes the area’s reef rocks as limestone buildups, including lime-mud deposits.
The sharp peaks of Parkhouse and Chrome Hill stand out among the softer landscape of the upper Dove Valley.
Nearby caves preserve evidence of ancient human activity. At Dowel Cave, the remains of at least ten people are thought to be Neolithic, although Historic England says the remains themselves are undated. A worked antler point from the cave has a radiocarbon age of about 11,200 years before present (1950). At Fox Hole Cave on High Wheeldon, two worked antler pieces have radiocarbon ages of about 12,000 years before present; other finds belong to later periods. These are radiocarbon ages, not calendar-year dates. See the East Midlands research framework and the county heritage record.
The view from Hitter Hill takes in Parkhouse Hill and the spine of Chrome Hill, known as the Dragon’s Back. The museum’s 2019 account describes the view and the landscape that inspired the artists.
Take a walk here and you will sense this area is indeed unique giving the impression that you are simultaneously in expansive space and yet closed in on all sides.
It is here in the valley of Dowel Dale that two artists, Tony Wild and Brian Holdcroft decided to plot their materials and their ideas to take their work on a journey for twelve months.
For twelve months they drew, explored, walked and photographed
Both artists originally hail from the Potteries. Tony having worked in the arts ever since studying at Burslem School of Art in the late 1950’s, and Brian developing his art form in more or less isolation from other artists until meeting Tony over twenty years ago. Over the years their work has diverged and returned to the landscape many times.
This exhibition is a culmination of work they created throughout the year from spring 2018 to spring 2019.
Most months are inclement here in the Peaks, they needed shelter. And so they hired a barn from farmer Mr Etches to store their materials, keep a stove and when needed take refuge.
Throughout the twelve months they drew, explored, walked and photographed. Their work shows the industry of their origins both in its output and how it now appears in series and variations.
Tony’s work falls into set of images. Chrome Hill and groups of trees appear as a repeated motif in small heavily textured and expressive paintings, their energy punching out from their size. Butterflies are lost in the textures of limestone and the microscopic world of lichens are honed in and magnified into much larger paintings. And there is colour, lots of it.
“Working outside meant I could concentrate on the landscape and to a large degree was dictated by the environmental changes such as light and weather. So the mood changes as the elements do. Working in the studio would only have been a concept of what we wanted to create”, explains Tony.
Brian’s work evolves into series; growth, erosion and mapping, as he considers the layered histories of the area and the interactions between its geology, materials, animal and human activity. He uses beeswax, pigment, ink and earth in his paintings. All were created outside at Chrome Hill.
“We’re not pulled towards the urban landscape as much – there’s less seasonal changes. Chrome and Parkhouse Hill has such a presence to it, it drew us like magnets”, says Brian.
Many would describe both artists’ work as abstract or expressive. Brian’s more so but the colours are naturalistic- and having experienced this area first hand- particular and precise. The work of both artist is lively and not always recognisable or descriptive, preferring to reveal its imagery and topography slowly as you immerse yourself into it, walk along with it, much as a landscape or a view unravels itself on a journey or by simply observing it quietly, in increments. In essence it’s all here.
In 2019, works from the exhibition were offered for sale, with a 10% deposit and collection after the exhibition ended.
The Chrome Hill Project was advertised in Gallery 1 from 21 September to 23 November 2019. Entry was free.
Former museum address (closed in 2023): Buxton Museum & Art Gallery, Terrace Road, Buxton, SK17 6DA
T: 01629. 533540
Opening times in 2019: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (Sundays and bank holidays, from Easter to September 12 noon to 4pm)
Entry in 2019: Free; donations were welcome
The museum is now in a temporary building next to Buxton Library on Kents Bank Road. Find Buxton Library on Google Maps.
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