Harold Riley (artist)
Encyclopedia
Harold Riley was born in Salford in 1934, his father was a jazz musician and his mother was a school teacher. At the age of 17 he won a scholarship to the Slade and went on to study in Florence and Spain before returning to Salford, where he has lived ever since. As a student he became a good friend of fellow Salfordian L. S. Lowry
.
Riley developed his reputation as a portraitist of many rich and famous people including popes, presidents and royalty including Nelson Mandela
and Pope John Paul II. His sporting works include golf (Henry Cotton, Jack Nicklaus
, Tiger Woods
) and football (George Best
, Sir Matt Busby
, Bryan Robson
).
He has been awarded honorary doctorates by the universities of Salford, Manchester, London and Florence.
The Salford City Council have funded an archive and studio for Riley in a conservation area around the old Fire Station where he continues to work.
In 2009 cover artwork by Riley featured on a special limited edition CD by classical singer Jon Christos
in aid of Christie Hospital
.
L. S. Lowry
Laurence Stephen Lowry was an English artist born in Barrett Street, Stretford, Lancashire. Many of his drawings and paintings depict nearby Salford and surrounding areas, including Pendlebury, where he lived and worked for over 40 years at 117 Station Road , opposite St...
.
Riley developed his reputation as a portraitist of many rich and famous people including popes, presidents and royalty including Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
and Pope John Paul II. His sporting works include golf (Henry Cotton, Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
, Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
) and football (George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
, Sir Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
, Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
).
He has been awarded honorary doctorates by the universities of Salford, Manchester, London and Florence.
The Salford City Council have funded an archive and studio for Riley in a conservation area around the old Fire Station where he continues to work.
In 2009 cover artwork by Riley featured on a special limited edition CD by classical singer Jon Christos
Jon Christos
Jon Christos is an English singer and local radio presenter.A classically trained tenor, he is best known for an album of operatically-styled crossover music.-Early years and education :...
in aid of Christie Hospital
Christie Hospital
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is located in Withington, Manchester, and is one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe. The Christie became a NHS Foundation Trust in April 2007 and is also an international leader in cancer research and development, and home to the Paterson Institute...
.