The printmaker and illustrator Paul Catherall uses linocuts to represent iconic British landmarks. His current exhibition ‘Sent from Coventry’ is a collection of prints that highlight and record the groundbreaking post-war buildings in Coventry – Paul’s hometown – which, at the time, were set to define Coventry as a “city of the future.”

Pictured alone, the buildings cut a striking profile. “The post-war architecture I admire deals in simplified but dramatic shapes, unusual silhouettes and refined detail,” Paul explains. “All of these translate well to linocut. You could say that the technique itself is quite unforgiving and brutal but also warm and tactile – like the architecture itself.”

The exhibition – which is on display in Coventry Cathedral until 7 July – has been dubbed a “lament” to the city’s modernist masterpieces which are under threat of closure, redevelopment, or demolition. Discovering this trend shaped Paul’s work: “I didn’t set out to concentrate on those at risk – it just unravelled during the years creating the prints.”

The cathedral is a fitting venue for Paul’s work as it features as one of his inert subjects. Designed by Basil Spencer, it is the only building from that time that has since gained widespread architectural recognition: Bull Yard, City Arcade and many other municipal buildings and leisure centres haven’t been so lucky. “The Coventry rebuild was an entire project that incorporated great public art, sculptures and contemporary but thoughtful architecture,” Paul explains. “Sadly, the cathedral seems to be the only one that matters.”

For Paul, celebrating Coventry’s brutalist buildings is not just about preserving architectural heritage, it’s about preserving a way of life. “Despite these buildings’ reputation in some quarters as being monolithic and not human-centred, actually they are beautifully designed with open public spaces and never feel overbearing,” he argues. “If we lose them, and the carefully crafted space around them, we would be losing not only an atmosphere of community, but also urban oases that are as vital as city centre parks and green sites.”

‘Sent from Coventry’ is at Coventry Cathedral until 7 July 2024