There have been many artists whose pieces of art failed to gain recognition during their lifetime, but were highly revered after their death. Late artist Ron Grittins falls into this category. He deliberately kept his artwork hidden from the world, and even his family, for 33 years. He lived in an apartment that he transformed for 33 years; it was only after his death in 2019 that his artistry inside the house was discovered. It has now been given Grade II listed status, following efforts to preserve it. Ron Gittins’ creation was unearthed in Birkenhead, Wirral, England. Situated on Silverdale Road, this flat marks the inaugural instance of Outsider Art, crafted by individuals without formal training to receive national recognition through listing. Historic England emphasised that the listing honours Ron Gittins’ “exceptional artistic accomplishments and perspective.”
From the outside, ‘Ron’s Place’ on Silverdale Road looks like any other rented flat. People passing by would have had no idea about the masterpiece found inside. Over the course of four decades, Ron Gittins secretly transformed his humble ground-floor home into a wonderland inspired by the artefacts of ancient Greece and Egypt
Even his relatives did not know anything until his death in 2019 at the age of 79. After the property was put up for sale in 2022, the campaign group “Saving Ron’s Place Group” stepped in to save it, including many of its legendary members such as Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker.
Following her brother’s passing in 2019, Ron’s elder sister, Pat Williams, found herself uncertain about what awaited her upon entering his rented flat to gather his belongings. For years, Ron had kept his home secluded from any family members, meaning they were completely unaware of what they might encounter inside.
There are murals of historical scenes on every surface, as well as three stunning concrete fireplace sculptures of a roaring lion, a bull and a temple. His work influenced many people, including celebrities and music icons. The flat is now looked after by his niece Jan Williams, Pat’s daughter, who is also an artist. Later, many art lovers and artists, including Ron’s niece, launched a campaign to protect his legacy.
A Historic England spokesman said in an interview that Mr Gittins’ creation was an “exemplar of large-scale Outsider Art in England, a creative phenomenon by artists motivated by their personal visions and often working in a compulsive way, usually with no formal training and outside the influence of the mainstream art world”.
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