These are just some of the wonderful sketches from artist Len Grant who spent the last 12 months detailing life on the world famous Curry Mile in Manchester.

Len’s 85 sketches now make up a new book ‘The Rusholme Sketcher’ and feature scenes of passers-by, shoppers and businesses.

From barbers and Shisha Cafe's to Asian fabric stores and takeaways, the sketches shed light on an ever evolving part of Wilmslow Road.

It showcases the diversity of the area as well as the experiences of people who live and work there.

This was something that interested Len when he first set out drawing. “New restaurants and cafes are constantly popping up, trying to keep up with the latest culinary trends.

“As one restauranteur told me, 'The Rusholme restaurants will survive as long as they offer something new.'

“So, on each visit I’d look out for something different going on, or some particular activity.

“Maybe it was a refurbishment or the lastnminute shopping before Eid. At other times my choice of sketching subject would literally depend on where there was space to position my stool on the busy pavement.”

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Len was a common sight along the famous stretch

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The Rusholme Sketcher features 85 sketches detailing life on the Curry Mile

Len was inspired to put the book together one Friday morning when he cycled towards town. “Stopping at traffic lights, the idea suddenly dawned and I immediately pedalled back to the familiar barbers and asked if I could sit on the sofa and draw their salon.

“Harry, the barber closest to the door, said I was welcome and the project began.”

Len said he had an amazing response from everyone he had come across.

He said, “Many have been somewhat bewildered by this middle-aged bloke sitting on a tiny stool drawing their familiar surroundings.

“The cafes and restaurants have welcomed me inside, intrigued as to how I might depict their place. They’ve told me stories of their businesses, offered encouragement and given suggestions of where I might draw next.

“Some months into the project I was told I was getting well-known around the place and on one occasion I introduced myself to a cafe customers and he exclaimed, ‘Are you the Rusholme Sketcher? I follow you on Instagram!’ Fame indeed!”

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Above Ramadan and Eid (Images copyright: Len Grant)

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A freelance photographer he was relatively new to sketching and only picked up a paintbrush about five years ago.

He said, “I’m a storyteller and I’d been looking for a project where I could tell an interesting story with sketches.

“The Rusholme Sketcher started as a blog and is a personal project that demonstrates the potential of telling stories with words and sketches.”

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When asked of his favourite sketch he spoke of the scene at the Mughli Charcoal Pit (above)

“It was a busy evening and everyone was rushing around. I was given prime position on a high table in front of the charcoal fire where two chefs were preparing kebabs and chops. I surprised myself by managing to capture the scene relatively well without getting in the way.

“They liked the sketch so much that it appeared later on social media and has been printed in their latest menu. The waiter I drew introduced himself weeks later when we were in the same kebab shop."

His time on the Curry Mile has seen him make many friends and he admits there is nowhere like the stretch of road.

“There’s always something different. I asked the owner of Jilani’s Cafe whether he was positive about the future. 'Absolutely,' he said, 'Rusholme will never die. It’s world famous. But we have to move with the times and give the customer what they want."

To purchase the book and find out more click here