A new exhibition in Shrewsbury highlights the importance of hyperlocal media at the heart of community life.

Shrewsbury has gained in popularity in recent years and is regularly listed in national roundups of the top 10 market towns in the country - just this week, it has been named number one in The Telegraph’s list of UK’s best high streets.

Locals say the town’s artistic vibe is a huge part of what makes it special - and this week, the ' My Shrewsbury Retrospective' exhibition opens, highlighting the role played by ‘new breed’ hyperlocal media in championing the arts. My Shrewsbury front cover artists have included Marvel and DC comic book legend Mike Perkins and Charlie Adlard of The Walking Dead, along with Joe Whale, aka 'The Doodle Boy'.

This week marks the opening of a special retrospective exhibition at Swan Hill Studios celebrating the 40 front covers of My Shrewsbury magazine, running from December 6th to 12th, 10 am to 4 pm daily. The event, curated by Sam Pooley-Stride and Ross Callaghan, coincides with the release of the magazine's final print edition as it transitions to a fully digital format.

Founded by Katy Rink in 2017, My Shrewsbury has spent seven years capturing the essence of the town through thoughtful writing and striking visual design. The exhibition shines a spotlight on the local artists who helped create the magazine’s signature front covers, many of whom will also offer merchandise, including prints and cards, for sale.

“The My Shrewsbury front covers tell a story of collaboration and community,” Rink said. “Engaging with the town’s creatives has been central to our mission. I’m incredibly grateful to every artist who has contributed to our covers. As we move forward online, I’m committed to continuing to champion Shrewsbury’s vibrant arts scene.”

Visitors to the exhibition will not only see the collection of 40 framed covers, curated with the support of Callaghan Framing, but also learn about the magazine’s journey. The publication emerged as a response to the decline of traditional local newspaper offices, aiming to represent the town authentically and foster local pride.

Rink encourages Shrewsbury residents to support My Shrewsbury’s digital future by subscribing to its online What’s On and cultural guide ‘In the Loop’. “It’s less than £1 a week to subscribe to In the Loop and with reader support, there’s no limit to the wonderful, authentic local content we can create for Shrewsbury,” she noted.

The exhibition has drawn reflections from contributors and collaborators. Illustrator Mike Perkins, known for his work for Marvel and DC comic books, praised My Shrewsbury for its role in fostering Shrewsbury’s cultural community. “The magazine played a part in my decision to move here from Florida,” he said. “It’s been a privilege to contribute to something so rooted in the locality.”

Charlie Adlard, illustrator for The Walking Dead, also created a cover, showing Darwin’s ape clinging to the Shrewsbury Market Hall clocktower, to help promote a local comic book festival (Shrewsbury is famously the birthplace of naturalist Charles Darwin).

“The aim was to put Shrewsbury on the map as a comics hub,” Charlie said. “We’ve probably already got more cartoonists living here per capita than anywhere else and the list is growing!”

Autumn 2021 saw another ‘famous’ commission for My Shrewsbury, with this bespoke cover created by local young celebrity doodler Joe Whale, aka The Doodle Boy. Joe shot to international fame aged 9, after pictures of him doodling on the walls of Number Four restaurant in Shrewsbury went viral in 2019. It marked the beginning of a serious career for Joe, who has since gone on to create his own books series ‘Bad Food’ published by Scholastic, as well as collabs with M&S, Nike, Pixar, the FA and even the Royal Family!

As My Shrewsbury prepares to embrace a digital future, the exhibition serves as a poignant reminder of the magazine’s impact and its enduring commitment to the community. My Shrewsbury Magazine Retrospective Exhibition is at Swan Hill Studios, 17A Swan Hill, Shrewsbury SY1 1NL from 6-12 December, 10am to 4pm daily.