Meet the Southport artist capturing the town’s beauty in beautiful watercolours

A Talented Southport-based artist, Nasro Mo, with dreams of exhibiting at The Atkinson Art Gallery on Lord Street is making waves with his stunning oil and watercolour paintings of the town.

Mohamed Nasr Eddine Benbrahim, known as Nasro Mo, has been sharing his work since May, posting beautifully detailed sketches of Southport’s landscapes, architecture, and nature in the Stand Up For Southport Facebook group.

His artwork has captured the hearts of the local community, with one particularly moving piece depicting the floral tributes left in Town Hall Gardens in memory of the young victims of the Hart Street tragedy.

The sketches, which were drawn in black and white, were made as a result of Mohamed becoming inspired by local buildings and the beautiful wildlife and nature in the Southport area.

He said: “There’s so much to see here, I’m fascinated with the details this town has.

“I love the details on the old, historic buildings.”

Art by Southport artist Mohamed Nasr Eddine Benbrahim, known under the name Nasro Mo

Although skilled in colour, sculpture and many other art materials, Mohamed sketched predominately in ink pens on an A4 canvas due to timings with work.

Now, he has expanded his portfolio to include colourful and detailed oil and watercolour paintings.

Mohamed said: “I think oil painting is the art of the masters and it has been known worldwide and historically as well.

“People do appreciate it more when they see an oil painting as they know it needs skills and an understanding of colours, values and brushstrokes.

“I prefer oil painting because now I fully engage with it.

“Recently I’ve started doing plein air painting where I paint outdoors just to give me more understanding of the real colours that are in nature.

“Oil painting needs time, sometimes mood, but the key is just to paint whatever comes to the mind. Sometimes painting just an apple can be turned into a masterpiece painting.”

His most recent painting depicts donkey rides near Southport Pier. He says the painting brought back a lot of memories for people who follow his art journey.

He said: “The painting speaks for itself, a narrative painting.

“I’ve enjoyed painting this scene of the donkey ride which was a popular attraction in Southport seaside.

“It was painted in one go, and took me a few hours in one sitting. I’ve used my brushstrokes technique, kind of abstract as you can see it when you zoom in, this will give a viewer a sense of one piece colour harmony when looked at from a distance.”

Other paintings of the town by Nas Mo include the Botanic Gardens Museum, Churchtown Cottage and the Marine Lake.

When asked about his favourite he said: “I’ve done a few oil paintings so far, they are all my favourites but people who follow my art journey on Facebook and Instagram can judge more!

“People are loving my oil paintings and they can see my dedication and effort that I am putting into art because they do believe in my skills and talent, and I thank everyone for their support.

“I am open for any commissions and any kind of exhibition or even a workshop.”