Photography & Art Galleries

Please browse the archive of photography and art that has formed a part of our projects.

Our Cultural Archive

In January 2025 we launched a photography competition, asking people of Bolton to send in photos of places that are important to them and Don Tonge, our judge was thrilled with the quality of the entries. The top 35 are presented below in a gallery, so please flick through to view the images. The asterisk (*) after the photographer’s name indicates that this is included as an illustration in the Bolton Observed anthology, published in March 2025 to commemorate Bolton as the GM Town of Culture.

Bolton Skate Park by Peter Kennington – 1st place*

The first fall of snow by Ian Aspinall – 2nd place*

Woven Together by Bernie Jordan – 3rd place*

Bolton Ironman by Peter Kennington*

England Fan by Henry Lisowski*

In the snow by Andy Westsmith*

Smithills in the Mist by John Norris*

Lever Street footbridge by Andrew Hodson*

Bank Street Bridge by Peter Kennington*

Despite the weather by Geof Leigh*

Rivington Terraced Gardens by Andrew Hodson*

Rock Garden with Bridge by Janice Drake*

Boundary Gateway by Bernie Jordan*

Home and dry by Bernie Jordan*

View from the Top by Anil Prajapati*

Bolton Town Wrestling by Matt Fowell*

Pocket Park Pals: Small Spaces, Big Play by Jo McLaughlin*

Queens Park by Ian Aspinall*

63 Steps by Laura Kovaleva*

Everything but the game by Debs Parr*

Entwistle in Winter Sun by John Norris

Moody Skies Over Winter Hill by David Reardon

Hope by Andy Westsmith

Mark at Bolton Little Theatre by Janice Drake

Ladder on the chimney  by Janice Drake

Firwood Fold by Peter Firth

Smithills in Summer by John Norris

Samuel Taylor Chadwick by Peter Firth

Underground walkway by Anil Prajapati

Lion of Vienna by Debs Parr

Foggy shoppers & lovers by Ian Aspinall

River Croal by Nat Clare

The proposal by Tracy Gerrard

Holi Festival by Henry Lisowski

Double the view  by Emily Reardon