Matstick cats and dogs. - By: David Tatham

This young fellow grew up in the streets of northern England, Lancashire. He did not have great academic success at school and preferred to sketch and paint. He was brought up in a fairly well to do area of Manchester, his father was an estate agent and his mother a concert pianist of some reputation. Unfortunately, hard times fell upon the Lowry's, and they were forced to give up their house and move to a more industrial working area; something L.S. Lowry was not familiar with. At first he disliked all the noise, smoke, dirt and the large mills that employed thousands of people living a poor existence. Then he became fascinated with the whole scene around him. Seeing the crowds come and go as they worked at the mill. The dark satanic mills with their chimneys pouring out smoke, and the rows of terraced houses where the workers would live. As his interest developed, so did his wish to portray these scenes. Everyday people in often desparately sad situations. He felt he could relate to the sadness he saw everyday, and in some way that seemed to comfort him.

When Lowry left school he became a rent collector for the Pall Mall rent collection company. Lowry watched and experienced for himself the working everyday life of the people he was living with. Standing in the street watching the world go by, he would use whatever was to hand in order to capture a sketch of the moment.

He continued to attend art school, and greatly admired the work of several great contemorary artists of his time. Lowry was fortunate to have an excellent and well respected teacher at college that encourasged him to find his own unique style.

He was offered a knighthood by the primeminister Harold Wilson, but he refused to accept ity, and turned away from much of the financial rewards and honours offfered to him. His father died, and his mother became ill. His mother became ill and remained bedridden for many years, Lowry stayed with her, and continued to paint. As his success as an artist became nationally known, people from all over the country would come to visit in the hope of gaining a small picture. He did not enjoy this part of his recognition, and became more reclusive. Approximately fifty or so signed limited edition prints were reproduced; his most famous one to date is titled 'Going to the match'. Mrs Swindell was Lowry's house keeper, he gave her an industrial scene painting which became titled after her. This painting was later published as a signed limited edition. Although most of his scenes are from the Lancashire area, Lowry would travel and for example paint and sketch on the south coast 'Deal', and there is a signed, limited edition titled 'Burford church' in the Cotswolds area. Places such as Hartlepool, Berwick-on-Tweed and the North East were frewuently visited by Lowry. All his paintings and drawings have usually some story attached to them. Some of his moe relaxed paintings show a Lowry enjoying life; the signed limited edition print 'Landscape with farm buildings', was painted after a visit to his friend in the countryside one Sunday.

About the Author

David Tatham specializes in the paintings, drawings and signed limited edition prints by L.S. Lowry; an extensive collection of this artist's work can be viewed and bought at the website http://www.lowry.co.uk

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