About the artist
Born in Oldham, Lancashire, the multifaceted artist known for his painting, poster design, printmaking, and draftsmanship was educated at a local board school. Before long, he was apprenticed as a textile designer in Manchester and attended the School of Art part-time, where he developed a friendship with the artist L S Lowry. He later moved to London and enrolled in evening classes at the Central School of Arts and Crafts under the mentorship of A S Hartrick starting in 1925. By 1928, he had married fellow artist Margaret Cook and settled in Dulwich, where he continued to reside. The 1930s were a busy time for him. He showcased his work in exhibitions at RA and NEAC, landed a position as the art director at C Vernon and Sons advertising agency, hosted his first solo exhibition at Arthur Tooth and Sons in 1933, and began teaching at Central School that same year.
