Barnsley artist Ben Mosley felt “honoured” to be able to showcase his work to Barnsley FC fans.

Ben has been working closely with Reds in the Community’s ‘Our Club, Our Ground, Our Past, Our Future’ Heritage Project, commemorating the 130th anniversary of Barnsley Football Club.

Mosley is quickly becoming recognised as one of the country’s most renowned artists, having already been commissioned by the likes of Manchester United, Wembley Stadium and the London 2012 Olympics amongst others.

He produced seven stunning pieces of work, highlighting some of the key moments in the history of the Club, from its formation in 1887 through to the present day, explaining why he felt they had to be encapsulated.

“When speaking to Sarah Hughes and the committee of the Heritage Project, we went through various different moments in the Club’s history that people felt meant the most.

“The volunteers have been working hard to get stories relating to the different moments over the 130 years. We chose these moments because we thought they were the most evocative for Reds fans old, new and present.

“You’ve got the foundation of the club which is very prominent and probably the most important moment, winning the FA Cup which makes us one of the elite in British history, because there’s not that many that have done it.

“You have the 1996/97 season, with Clint Marcelle’s goal against Bradford City taking us to the Premiership, then some of the more recent ones, winning at Wembley twice being an important one.

“To go to the home of football and win, there’s not many sides I can think of that have scored six goals in two Wembley finals in the same season

“The 80s team we felt was the start of the climb to the Premiership. The last one with the miners going to the game is more looking as a reflection of the culture of the town and the place, it just all ties in,” he said.

As a Reds fan, the project has been even more pertinent for Ben and it has allowed him to paint something extremely close to his heart.

Mosley had come to the attention of the Heritage Project committee through Oakwell historian David Wood and the rest is history.

To play his part in recreating a history of the Reds in pictures is something RITC is proud to have been able to enable Ben to do.

“Being a Barnsley fan, it’s a very important thing for me to be involved in the Heritage Project and David Wood the Oakwell historian was very proactive with me and complimentary of my work.

“He put me forward to the group as a potential artist to do the paintings to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the football club and being a big fan and football being a huge part of my background, it was an honour to play my part in the history of the Reds.

“I jumped at the chance to produce the paintings that celebrate the moments that people appreciate the most in the 130 years,” he said.

Being presented with such an opportunity was a humbling moment for the 35-year-old but one he felt he needed to make the most of to stay in touch with his Barnsley roots.

He hopes the fans can take as much enjoyment out of looking at the pieces on display as he took in painting them.

He added: “The club has always played a massive part of my life and the relationship I have with my dad, I’m the first to be born outside Barnsley on his side but it’s important to keep the connection with my roots.

“The football club has allowed me to have a passion. There’s a passion with Barnsley fans generally, you only have to be at the ground and when the team perform the fans get behind the team win, lose or draw.

“It’s been an honour to do it and I hope Reds fans can enjoy them for years to come.”