Sunderland-based artist Darren Timber honours the legendary band with an intricate screw art masterpiece.

A striking new artwork featuring The Beatles has emerged, constructed from a remarkable 24,000 screws in three different colours. The creative mind behind this impressive piece is Darren Timby, a graphic designer hailing from Sunderland, who dedicated approximately 120 hours to bringing the portrait to life.

Timby’s decision to use screws as his medium is a heartfelt homage to Sunderland’s rich industrial heritage, known for its shipbuilding and coal mining history. “Shipbuilding and coal mining are all part of our history, and the screw art is almost like a nod to where I’m from,” he explained, highlighting the significance of his choice of materials.

The portrait features iconic band members George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and Paul McCartney, rendered on a white canvas. The artwork, measuring 6ft wide by 3ft tall (182cm by 91cm), utilises black, silver, and gold screws to create depth, allowing viewers to clearly identify the four musicians.

When selecting an image to replicate, Timby considered several famous photographs of The Beatles. However, he ultimately opted for a different representation to capture a unique aspect of the band. “I know there are some really iconic images of them, such as them walking over the zebra crossing on Abbey Road, but to do that I would need a factory wall to produce the right quality,” he remarked.

In addition to the Beatles’ likeness, the artwork features details like microphones and a guitar head, which Timby creatively added to enhance the overall composition. “They were things that were not in the photo I picked—but I added them to give some depth to the piece rather than having a load of shirt pockets and shoulders in there,” he noted.

This latest creation marks Timby’s twelfth screw art project, with previous works including portraits of cultural icons like Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, and Queen Elizabeth II. Each project is not only a showcase of his artistic skills but also a labour of love, often accompanied by soundtracks that resonate with the subjects he depicts. While crafting the Beatles portrait, he played an original Beatles LP, immersing himself in their music. “I just lose myself in the whole thing,” he shared, reflecting on the joy he finds in the creative process.

Timby’s screw art not only pays tribute to musical legends but also encapsulates the spirit of his hometown, merging art with industrial heritage in a truly unique fashion.