Macclesfield artist Charles Tunnicliffe OBE was born 120 years ago on this day (December 1).

Macclesfield artist, David Steeden, spent two hours completing his finished sketch of the mid-twentieth century artist's childhood home, where Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-1979) lived for the majority of his childhood.

Tunnicliffe was a naturalistic painter of birds and nature and was born in Langley, but raised in the Macclesfield village of Sutton. It is in Sutton where you can find Lane Ends Farm, where he developed his world-famous craft until the age of 19.

It was in this very home where Charles received the letter in 1921 stating he had successfully gained a place at the Royal College of Art in South Kensington, where he enrolled and left Macclesfield not long before his 20th birthday.

A side by side comparison. Charles moved out this Sutton home in 1921. His mum would also move out a few years later, and move into the centre of Macclesfield on Nicholson Avenue. (Image - @davidsteedenart / Alexander Greensmith)

David Steeden, who has over 30,000 followers on Instagram for his sketches in Macclesfield and the surrounding area, spoke about the honour of painting the home of the local hero.

"I first became aware of Charles Tunnicliffe's work many years ago through books belonging to a wildlife artist friend who was a founding member of The Society of Marple Artists, of which I am a member," David said.

"Although I am not a wildlife artist myself I can appreciate the skill and dedication shown throughout his work and the techniques used.

"I met with Pam Skinner, the owner of Tunnicliffe Cottage, where Charles Tunnicliffe lived during his youth. During our chats she took me through a potted history of Charles's time in the village.

The converted barn house called Tunnicliffe Cottage (left) and the Tunnicliffe's old house (right). A pig sty and apple orchard also used to be at the building in Charles' time.

"It was on the second visit I decided to sketch the cottage itself and which has had Pam and her husband Jeff's approval.

"When I am sketching on location I generally use a square sketchbook and a pen with permanent black ink. I usually add the watercolour back in my studio.

"The one thing I learnt about his childhood home was how popular it is with tourists and how popular his art has become."

Pam Skinner, who currently resides in Tunnicliffe's old home, said: "The farm has not changed a lot since we moved in."

A sign in Sutton village honours Charles Tunnicliffe, just a thirty second walk from his childhood home.

"We removed the 60's style fireplace and replaced with a log burner, stone surround, after moving in after the last owners Hector and Freda Jones."

The only difference is the adjacent barn where cows were once kept has now been converted into another property.

Pam and her family have altered Tunnicliffe Cottage from a granny flat to a whole cottage, with the adjacent barn being turned into another home.

In Tunnicliffe's time, the barn next to Pam's was home to a hayloft and a few cows.

Pam was delighted to have David come and sketch her home.

David is one of the founding members of a local Urban Sketching Group called Maccsketchers who meet every Tuesday morning to sketch not only in Macclesfield but in the surrounding towns and villages.

David added: "Maccsketchers can be contacted through their Facebook page.

"We would be happy to welcome new members who fancy plein air sketching [sketching outdoors] on a Tuesday morning."

If you like David's work, you can commission him to sketch your home. He offers a variety of prices, and can be contacted via Facebook or Instagram.

We previously produced an article with David earlier in the year. Please click the link below to find out more.

See also: This Macclesfield Man Sketches Our Local Area for A Living.

There is also a FREE Charles Tunnicliffe talk happening in Macclesfield tomorrow. Please click here for more information.

Got an event to promote in Macclesfield? List it for FREE on the Macclesfield Nub News What's On section.

Thank you to Pam Skinner for letting Macclesfield Nub News photograph her home for this article.

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