Ron Gittins (1939 – 2019) was an outsider/folk artist residing in Birkenhead, Merseyside.
Ron rented the first-floor flat within a large house in my hometown of Birkenhead. He turned the entire space around him into a living artwork; muralled ceilings, walls, floors, and most notably gigantic cement fireplace sculptures which I'm told Ron would causally cook his dinner in. A non-stop artist, Ron's place is covered in curios of everyday life that give you a hint of how he lived, mixed with marvelously odd and fascinating art pieces that give you a hint of how he thought.
Until his death in 2019, Ron's place remained more or less a secret to the outside world. It was a privilege to be allowed inside to photograph his flat.
Until his death in 2019, Ron's place remained more or less a secret to the outside world. It was a privilege to be allowed inside to photograph his flat.
![Photograph of artist Ron Gittins living space. A large sculptural fireplace depicting a cow or bull with horns sits to the right of the image while left shows an unfinished painting and a paper mache bucket filled with paintbrushes](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/fd593c28-248e-4498-85aa-6a5fca47c03f_rw_3840.jpg?h=f171376776c7fc9143b85800224aa546)
![Paper mache legs and torso sit on a chair each in artist Ron Gittins living room. To the left a musical keyboard sits on its side against an old radio cabinet.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/f5b26bea-f19a-4017-8b8e-f6fec2fea00e_rw_3840.jpg?h=632b0feb0eb368cc3d261582dc30bd26)
![A large, handmade concrete fireplace which appears to depict a Roman inspired design](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/0e2d2587-520f-467f-8f6f-1a12635ba062_rw_1920.jpg?h=40e786c0a8f0ec2b909edd397780fe58)
![Detail of a Roman inspired fireplace built by hand by Birkenhead outsider artist Ron Grittins](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/88d92610-0408-4081-84fe-8cc34391c470_rw_3840.jpg?h=6f09b74316a10fe9b17c1a6aeeacbcb1)
![Doorways inside Ron Grittins house showing painted mural Egyptian inspired walls. In the centre shows an admiral's outfit hanging on a coat hanger.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/567f1dd0-f9d3-4c24-997d-9de7738ed5d4_rw_3840.jpg?h=1a78c433d02a99131f93c287958da2ea)
![An extremely large hand made fireplace sculpture of a lion with huge white teeth can be seen positioned between a doorframe. Above the lion fireplace there are many paintings of people on the wall. Part of the ceiling can be seen which is also painted in a large mural.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/989de2dd-719d-4f2a-a53e-ab15a461c68c_rw_1920.jpg?h=b962ff8843730a6845c70b87a7772a05)
![The corner of Ron Gittins' living room showing how the room is wrapped in a Roman style artwork pattern of many individual illustrations. Above that shows a mural artwork on the ceiling](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/3f66b039-efd7-405b-8df9-36dbf8271ffc_rw_3840.jpg?h=9905abdf0de58d383c79a4d945a23794)
![A set of false human teeth sit on top of an old newspaper, written on top of the newspaper is a headline that reads "Don't do as we did". To the right of the teeth is a book on the Spanish Armada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/45016f35-fe05-4a29-bfd9-a6efc50c3da8_rw_3840.jpg?h=50756da7ac3706ff024251b581f783f3)
![A paper mache sculpture of an oversized human baby sits on top of an old styled push pram. On the floor is a headless paper mache figure and in the background is a painting of a tree. Next to that is an old sewing machine.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/cb2623c2-5b48-4a99-977a-454b8baf5a9c_rw_1920.jpg?h=4c306edeaff162eda3077986af753b37)
![A portrait of a woman's face sits on an easel in the corner of a red room. Outside the door is the view into Ron Grittins' corridor and a blurred view into another room where you can see a portrait of a man on the wall](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/bf89b3e4-6cc2-4a41-9c9c-3ad85c5b4155_rw_3840.jpg?h=24cc8d18da4113af3cae6a958457e0ae)
![A desk sits up against a wall. On the desk is a busy looking artist's work table showing many paintbrushes. Under the desk is a television with an old hi fi amp on top. On the wall is a hand painted portrait of an admiral, there is a large gold frame which has also been painted onto the wall which the admiral is within. To the left there is a hand made fireplace with a fish head moulded into it.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/13d6082e-2d18-47ed-9836-09c97f9a881d_rw_1920.jpg?h=56598afa9672ee5ee564cbe629328e9e)
![A ladder draped with a cloth is pressed up against a painted wall, perhaps suggesting how outsider artist Ron Grittins decoratively painted his ceilings](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/ccd52146-b8d0-42eb-abaf-eda286395f06_rw_3840.jpg?h=b64ae715a8d6c1b17229966055a7d4ce)
![A large gold frame is physically painted onto the wall, inside it is a portrait of a woman with blue eyes, wearing a general's outfit. It's in the style of a Napoleonic portrait. Underneath, there is old household items such as a TV, VCR, old fruit boxes and a guitar.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/8f323b26-fb5e-47e9-822e-a81ce09cdc2b_rw_1920.jpg?h=2ebe93a73ae254cc51a6a968d2fe5d93)
![The corner of a room in artist Ron Gittins' flat showing rubble of home made Roman helmets, scepters, armour and swords. On the wall is a Roman painting of a woman. To the left there is a an out of focus image of a large concrete fireplace made in the image of a bull or cow. Its mouth is wide open and you can see that this is a working fire place as there is a metal plate within it.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/d25438a8-a5b7-411a-a03e-7ebcedfb2359_rw_3840.jpg?h=e1c14c14870c0b47b81b5431b0016cf3)
![Between an out of focus doorway, a large hand made concrete fireplace in the image of a bull or cow can be seen. Its mouth is wide open and its white teeth are shown. Inside its mouth is a metal plate, suggesting the fireplace is a working fireplace.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/3414edab-999c-4582-884a-76170302c280_rw_3840.jpg?h=25bd8e41e30e81d3ccf747dc4e725a77)
![Ron Gittins' bathroom where an underwater themed mural is painted on every wall. A shark, a stingray and a fish can be seen painted above a bath that is filled with cardboard sculptures.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/658c2e48-ed67-4051-b3db-b2d0a44f6617_rw_3840.jpg?h=bf4c8e5ab07f47f87ffdba226fc03c66)
![The ceiling inside Ron Gittens' bathroom painted with a perspective of looking up, as if you are underwater. You can see the belly of a frog swimming and some dragonflies and other insects that have landed on the water.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/03dcc2c5-b674-4786-9f4d-cdeb105fc5d0_rw_3840.jpg?h=1db48fe686812027bdd012f99534a5ec)
![A sofa with a colourful knitted check pattern throw on top. Behind it is a mural of water and a horse emerging. In the background there is a sculpture of some legs.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/da0451a3-3fd0-43fe-9efb-c663467cde81_rw_3840.jpg?h=5ccb7209c2a2b18f1f0e292a28a9c20f)
![A close up image of paper mache sculpture of a woman. She has no legs and is sat on a wooden chair. She had large, naked breasts and her hand is placed almost seductively over her head.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/91467cad-286a-463b-98be-f02db88aea4e_rw_3840.jpg?h=9a827d6539f2153cddf9f6774b0f1185)
![A look up into the hallway of Ron Gittens' ground floor apartment, showing a crop of the Egyptian themed paintings on the wall. There is a continuous band marking the entire hallway containing hieroglyphic style artwork inspired by Ancient Egypt.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/9f670618-6f4c-421d-9b90-7a33090777d9_rw_3840.jpg?h=f1728823c6d40c7d6a4b1b2232e4eb5f)
![A sculpture of a head sits on a white plastic chair with metal legs. The sculpture resembles an Ancient Roman style. To the right of the image is a red sculptural head on a table.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/f855bd29-3a5f-4ce9-9019-6f31e0b515a0_rw_3840.jpg?h=ae9760c4648716caaa6343378ea1b099)
![A painting of what looks to be Prince Charles or another regal figure is on a canvas that has been muddied by what could be clay or concrete. Next to the painting is an unfinished shield and a tall wooden sign with the letter B on it.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/37345cb5-2a43-4210-b46b-bc33a153a4f3_rw_3840.jpg?h=3bb4a3517bbccbed6ae4cdd353f92132)
![A bull or cow head fireplace covers the entire wall of a living room. It has been hand made by the outsider artist Ron Gittens](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/42f1ddbb-6dc8-43a8-a95e-ac9f826405e8_rw_1920.jpg?h=8dfabbf6efb691eab15328fa1b92b342)
![The hallway, looking down to the floor. Ron Gittins has painted tiling patterns in red onto the wooden floorboards. On the walls there is an ancient Egyptian style painting showing a person with a bird head and a human figure holding hands.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/30ed1562-5665-4b37-8707-a02c87d72c99_rw_3840.jpg?h=a0956e33f74bdc920a954be32dc5dbfb)
![A huge sculptural fireplace of a lion with its mouth wide open showing large white teeth is to the left of the image. In the centre of the image is a musical keyboard on its side propped up against an old radio. Behind it is a roman themed wall painting depicting a woman and two other characters](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/2c49ebf0-1fcf-4658-b67d-21dc3df32ab6_rw_1920.jpg?h=d78ab31f163fd02eed44066a814bc941)
![A portrait of the artist Ron Gittins' who's home the photograph is taken in sits on a wooden table that's littered with many books and documents. Behind the portrait is a wall that's painted in the style of ancient Egypt art.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/8298fc5c-3549-43ed-a4b7-e567c3cc3799/56d48aba-55be-48a9-ae3f-5b8e8570d3a7_rw_3840.jpg?h=bd455bf52b759242db6525f1f3563a14)