Born in the mid 1960s in the Lancashire mill town of Ramsbottom, the young Robin Sharples grew up surrounded by the remnants of the once proud textile industry.

Captivated by the crumbling stone cotton mills gaunt smoke blackened chimneys and row upon row of terraced millworkers cottages clinging to the steep slopes of the Rossendale Valley, the sights sounds and smells were indelibly etched on the young mans conciousness.

From the thunder of last remaining weaving sheds, the heat from the firehole of the old Croft bleachworks at Stubbins and the dry distinctive smell of cotton and mineral oil in the mule spinning rooms of Cobden Street overlaced with the heady aromas of coal smoke issuing from the few remaining mill chimney stacks, this childhood was truly a delight.

Following a variety of occupations including blacksmith, welder, truck driver and managing director of a property company and undergoing two kidney transplant operations, Robin decided to indulge his creative passion and take up watercolour painting.

Since 2007, he has concentrated on creating a vivid portrayal of the nostalgic scenes of his youth, and is now in great demand for his interpretations of northern millscapes.

Robin has recently been commissioned to produce an illustration for the new Fred Dibnah book, "Fred Dibnahs Chimney Drops" by respected author and publisher, Alan McEwen. www.sledgehammerengineeringpress.co.uk