Small shops against the backdrop of majestic mountain landscapes.

Andrew Mackintosh is experimenting with the legacy of Romantic artists. They liked to depict dramatic ruins and mountainous landscapes, and a Scottish artist depicts decrepit shops in a hilly area.

The cute little lawn mower repair shops, tanning beds and vinyl record shops along the autobahn in Scotland will be on display at the Dreamers exhibition at the James Freeman Gallery in Islington from May 18 to June 10.

The artist has been collecting images of unusual buildings for almost a decade. “Often in my paintings, I remove the wall to show that there is something unexpected inside,” Mackintosh says in Creative Boom. “But I felt these buildings deserved to be alone.”

Like the paintings of the Romantics, the works of Andrew Mackintosh are large and majestic. Therefore, buildings with neon signs and empty windows look like endangered animals, desperately fighting for survival. They also talk about a cozy and slightly outdated type of trade, where the owner himself stands behind the counter.

Andrew Mackintosh, The Dreamers Photo: Andrew McIntosh

Andrew Mackintosh, The Dreamers Photo: Andrew McIntosh