It's impressive how good this car park can look. 

You'd perhaps be forgiven for thinking that the Merseyway Car Park is one Stockport landmark which has aged comparatively poorly - at least compared to the quaint half-timbered Underbank Hall, or the elaborate industrial facades around Market Place. 

In this context, however, the Merseyway is remarkably stylish, and with its assertive 1960s architecture, it is hard to think of a more perfect setting for Art Battle. 

This event sees 10 artists take to a central stage and produce a painting in 30 minutes. The public vote for their favourite using a token, and the painter with the most votes is duly crowned winner. 

The Merseyway looks quite resplendent as the sun begins to set (Image - Alasdair Perry)

The atmosphere is quite unique: it is less stern than an art gallery, although it is similarly inspiring and impressive. Nor is it quite like a music festival, although it has a similarly energetic and care-free atmosphere, and there is certainly music and dancing to be had. 

Art Battle lies somewhere in-between. It is performative, entertaining, and - with a host of local traders, stalls, and live music - festival-esque to a degree. But the 'paint-off' which is the focal point of the event; circling around the podium and watching as the artists deftly bring their paintings to life, then shuffling forward and voting with a physical token like an early Athenian citizen - all of these things are distinctly 'Art Battle'. 

This year, Lauren Carroll took home the Golden Paintbrush, producing a whimsical, hazy scene depicting the boundary between land and space, boasting a remarkable command of lighting, and a plume of smoke so convincing you can almost smell it.

Lauren Carroll's winning artwork (Image - Alasdair Perry)

Sophie Macaulay - who organised the event with her husband John - explained the reasoning behind the battle and its unorthodox venue. 

"We wanted to come back to Stockport because it was such a great vibe last time. Merseyway is such an iconic, unusual venue. 

"There's never been an event here before, and those are exactly our kind of spaces; transforming unusual places into art spaces, and getting people to see venues differently."

And how do the artists find painting in front of a captivated, scrutinising audience?  

"It's different, because they're painting with a time limit in front of people", Sophie explains. 

"The feedback we get is that it's a real adrenaline rush. It's like a bungee jump; they dread it, and then after they've done it, they're like 'that was amazing'."

Artists prepare for the battle. The event features three rounds - five artists in the first round, and five in the second. Two winners from each of these rounds are picked to go into a final (Image - Alasdair Perry)

As participating artist Rachelle Panagarry explains: "It's taking a risk. Taking a risk is exciting in creativity; it's something I would promote all day long."

Su Melville, another Art Battle contender, said: "In my view, this is fight club for artists. It's fun. It's not just art; it's music, it's culture, it's everything."

Contender Leanne Van also said: "It's cool because of the amount of people that are watching. Also, the fact that you only have 30 minutes - you're under pressure, but in a good way, because everybody is cheering you on. The high energy makes it enjoyable."

As Sophie adds: "Coming to events like this where there is music, art, food, lots of different things to do - it allows you to experience creativity again in a different way.

"We all switch off from art when we're young, and suddenly decide that we're not artistic, or we're not creative."

How do they do it? (Image - Alasdair Perry)

Certainly, the artists argue that creativity is something everybody has. 

"Anyone can draw", says Su. "As you see from the artists here, everyone is different. Everybody likes different things. There is no such thing as failure in art, and there is no such thing as competition, because everybody likes different things."

Rachelle similarly says: "If you want to start being creative and you've never done it before, have a go. Nothing is wrong. It's a really good tool to take you away from life."

Leanne also says: "I think there's a lot of trial and error, You just have to keep creating. You'll create some bad stuff, and you'll create some good stuff that you like. Just keep going and see what happens."

What better place, then, to celebrate creativity, to recognise everybody's capacity to appreciate and interpret art, than Art Battle?

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