Born in Salford in 1934, Harold Riley is an internationally renowned artist who sold his first painting at the very young age of 11.
Immediately after winning a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art University College in London, Riley won a travel scholarship to Italy, and then a British Council Scholarship to study in Spain.
Riley returned to Salford in 1960, producing works of his hometown through paintings, drawings, and photographs.
His deep affection for Salford strengthened his friendship with fellow well-known artist L.S. Lowry which began when Riley was a student. Together they worked on a project to record the Salford area and its people.
Riley works on portrayals of ordinary working lives as well as of sporting events and of the rich and famous. He has previously painted portraits of past Popes, royalty, American Presidents, and Nelson Mandela.
Salford Council created a studio and archive in a conservational area where Riley continues to paint. His work of the Salford area is stored there and a charitable trust, called the Riley Educational Foundation, has been set up to look after his life’s work.
Harold Riley’s art is highly collectable. They can be found in corporate and private collections around the globe. Many of his pieces have been featured in articles for the ArtDaily and The Independent.
We have some amazing pieces from Riley at the gallery right now, including a piece incorporating 4 x businesses cards which have hand drawn dogs sketched on the back by Riley himself (right - click the right arrow to see photos). The cards have Riley’s name and his daughter’s name, Ashraf Riley, on them. They can be sold together or reframed individually. Riley is well-known for drawing dogs.
We also have a very important oil which was created and given by Riley to the previous owner as a gift. The person he gifted owned a plane which they allowed Riley to use when watching Manchester United FC games played overseas. This piece is called 'Going to the Match' which you can see at the top of this blog.
Another piece that we hold at the Collect Art Gallery includes a mixed media of a boy (left), probably a young Lamp Lighter, who got up very early to light the gas lamps throughout the town or village. It is not uncommon for Riley to depict Lamp Lighters many times in his work.
If you would like to see these pieces and more from Harold Riley at the gallery, please feel free to visit the Collect Art Gallery in Lymm, Cheshire.
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