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Steve Mayes

@brickthis

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Artist specialising in bespoke models and custom kits using LEGO®. Based in North Shields, UK.

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Open Studios Revisited

If you missed the North Shields Open Studios weekend, here is one of the featured creative businesses that was drawing in the crowds on Howard Street.

@brickthis specialises in creating custom LEGO models, including architecture and vehicles. The impressive exhibition models can often take weeks or months to build, and they also sell a selection of fantastic kits, many with a distinctly north east theme.

https://brickthis.co.uk

#NorthShields #OpenStudios #art #artists

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Brick This | Steve Mayes

There aren’t many towns where you’ll find a professional independent LEGO artist tucked away in a studio.

Steve Mayes is the artist behind Brick This, creating incredibly detailed LEGO models and commissions from his Howard Street studio.

His practice is a brilliant reminder that creativity doesn’t have to fit neatly into the traditional idea of painting, sculpture or galleries.

#openstudio #northshields #supportlocal #lego #lookinside

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Wow! There’s so much to see at North Shields’ first Open Studio weekend.

There are art studios and pop-up exhibitions to explore all over town.
TODAY, Saturday 26th and TOMORROW, Sunday 27th Sept, 11am - 4pm.

You can pick up an Open Quay map from @glasshousetgh on Albion Road, @theglobegallery on the corner of Saville Street & Howard Street, and @theloadingbaynorthshields

The sun is shining, so get out there and start exploring!

#northshieldsculturalquarter #NorthShields #OpenStudios

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🎨 OPEN QUAY: NORTH SHIELDS OPENS ITS CREATIVE DOORS

Have you ever wondered what happens inside the studios, galleries and creative spaces scattered around North Shields?

On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, the town will become one big open studio for Open Quay—North Shields’ first open artist-studio weekend.

From Howard Street and Bedford Street to North Shields Library, Salt Market Social and the Fish Quay, artists and creative organisations will invite visitors behind the scenes to discover where—and how—their work is made.

Expect painting, photography, printmaking, animation, public art, murals, LEGO art, textiles, illustration, zines, sculpture and more.

You’ll be able to:

🎨 Meet local artists inside their studios
📸 Explore exhibitions and photographic archives
🖌️ Watch demonstrations and creative work taking shape
✂️ Try hands-on activities
🖼️ Discover and buy original artwork, prints, books and handmade pieces
🚪 Step inside some of the town’s fascinating creative spaces

Some of these places are normally hidden behind closed doors, making this a wonderful opportunity to see another side of North Shields and meet the people helping its creative community grow.

Open Quay is free to attend, with different artists and activities appearing across the two days.

📅 Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026
⏰ 11am–4pm each day
📍 Multiple locations across North Shields

Come for a wander, follow your curiosity and discover just how much creativity is hiding in plain sight throughout our town.

Find the full programme and accessibility information on their website.

image credit @northshieldsculturalquarter

#OpenQuay #NorthShields #NorthShieldsCulturalQuarter #QuayToCulture #NorthEastArt

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Our Sycamore Gap set has had its first outing, and we LOVE IT! 😍😍😍#SycamoreGap #BrickThis #LocalLego #BricksAndBrews

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🎾🧱 Centre Court, Wimbledon — built in bricks!

One of the most iconic venues in world sport recreated as a brilliant miniature brick-built display. 💚💜

From the famous green exterior to the tiny tennis racket and ball detail, this is such a unique build — and perfect timing with Wimbledon in full swing! 🎾🏆

A great little addition to the sports collection.

Game. Set. Build. 🧱🎾

#Wimbledon #CentreCourt #LEGO #LEGOCollection #AFOL @wimbledon @lego @brickthis

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Bringing architecture and street art together ✍️🎨
A hand-drawn perspective sketch inspired by the vibrant energy of King Street Social Club in North Shields and mural culture. Exploring texture, contrast, and urban storytelling through ink and water colours.

#northshields
#kingstreetsocial
#illustration
#watercolorpainting

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Here’s a behind the scenes look as our Castle and Garden teams carefully guided the LEGO @thebowesmuseum model into its new home at Glamis Castle, following its 223 mile journey from County Durham. The model will soon be ready to welcome its first visitors during this weekend’s Snowdrop Festival! 🧱🏰

Built from an extraordinary 40,000 LEGO bricks and measuring 1.8 metres in length, it’s one of the largest projects ever undertaken by LEGO artist Steve Mayes, @brickthis . Completed in just over six months in 2010, the piece was originally showcased as the centrepiece of the “LEGO Building The Bowes Museum” exhibition.

Its arrival at Glamis Castle feels especially fitting, given the historic ties between the Bowes family and the estate - the ancestral home of the Bowes Lyon family and the Scottish childhood home of Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon (Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother).

#glamiscastle #scottishcastles #castlesofscotland #legophotography #queenmother

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Find yourself someone who.....

......shares the load
......is your cheerleader
......lights your fire
......empties the dishwasher
......doesn't mind that you got a bit chonky
......supports your dreams
......won't care that your insta birthday reel for him is a day late
......wears the odd questionable outfit

Love you Steve, happy 49th birthday you truly excellent man.

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💪🏽 Soft launch 💪🏽

☕ Had an impromptu tester session today in the pink pod by the park. Many drinks were made and @sweetpattwb samples enjoyed 😅 .

💕 Thanks to all that came by.

See you all starting Monday for the real thing 👀. Jake x

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Alnwick gardens.

We got so lucky with the weather today for our visit to @alnwickgarden - I was expecting it to be raining but instead we ended up with glorious winter sunshine!

We took it pretty easy, meaning we didn’t try to see the entire place in one visit, but instead stuck to our tried and tested favourite areas.

The boys played on the diggers next to the fountain for a while before Sid decided to enjoy running underneath the water spurts! Both Teddy and Sid have been asking to visit the poison garden again so we made sure to fit a tour in. I would always say it’s worth while queuing for one as you do find out so much but it’s not particularly exciting for kids! Sid was horrified that the guide kept touching the plants- I think he was expecting to see him drop down dead!

Afterwards we popped in to visit the amazing @brickthis Lego model of the gardens before heading to the cherry Orchard for a swing!

For some reason Sid found today tricky. I’m not sure if it’s the relief of having a break from school or if he’s coming down with something, but he was close to meltdowns almost the entire time. I really appreciated that the staff were always warm and friendly and didn’t make any of us feel uncomfortable or judged. Here’s hoping he is a bit more chill tomorrow!

#alnwickgardens #poisongarden #northumberland #visitalnwick #daysoutwithkids #familytime #poisonpete #brickthis #lego #halloweendaysout #halloween #familytrip #senmum #winterwalk #wintersun #newcastledaysout #alnwick #alnwickdaysout #mumtoboys #daytrips #halftermactivities

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Did you know? This is Brick This — a professional LEGO® studio based in the North Shields Business Centre, run by artist Steve Mayes.

Steve’s journey is awesome: once an architectural photographer, he turned his childhood love of LEGO into a full-time career. Today he designs everything from custom kits you can build at home to giant exhibition models for places like The Alnwick Garden and The Bowes Museum.

> “I love what I do and I love living and working in North Shields … there’s a great sense of community here.” – Steve Mayes, Brick This

Headstand Mike went to check it out as part of his mission to do 800 headstands for 800 years of North Shields:

> “What a cool place. I felt like I was 12 again.” – Headstand Mike 🤸‍♂️

📲Follow @brickthis
@lego

#ILoveNorthShields #NorthShields #BrickThis #HeadstandMike #NS800 #LEGOArtist #SupportLocal

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