Keighley’s artist past and present were celebrated at this year’s Heritage Open Day on Saturday 9^th September. Despite it being the hottest day of the year art lovers still came along to listen to the wonderful talks and watch our local artist at work.   

Colin Neville talked about local artists Tom Butterfield & Agustus Spencer and their auspicious carers, Spencer’s run in with activist and suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst was of particular interest.

Furthermore, Colin brought Keighley’s importance in art education to light, highlighting how for fifty years, during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Keighley School of Art played a leading role in producing artistic talent of national calibre.  

Ray Vintner inspired the budding artist in us all with his demonstration on how to create a Bronte moorland landscape painting. Ray worked in acrylics, taking us from the layout of the picture and how to create perspective to adding colour and detail to create mood and atmosphere. Ray has been working on his painting so if you would like to see how the painting is coming along pop into the library. 

Stan Boardman’s life was the subject of Tim Neal’s talk in the afternoon. Tim took us through Stan’s journey, from offcumden, born in Maidstone in Kent to household name in Keighley and beyond. The talk was full of images of Stan’s paintings depicting his childhood, growing up in Keighley’s harsh, yet, endearing 1920s. 

The displays on David Kirkley and Footballer Mike Hellawell, both who we sadly lost this year, were manned by Charlie Bhowmick MBE and Barbara Wood who sold books and collected for Dementia Friendly Keighley.  

Simon Wilkinson’s Storytime was very popular and the children enjoyed creating dinosaurs and mammoths to add to the wall art.  

Please come and join us again on 8th October for more events at our Keighley Library Community Day.