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.

Hometown Arts & Crafts is the theme for this year’s Heritage Open Day so come and join us at Keighley library on Saturday 9th September between 10.00am – 4.00pm.

At 10.00am art writer and creator of the popular local art website, Not Just Hockney, Colin Neville, will be giving a talk on “Tom Butterfield & Augustus Spencer: The Role of Keighley School of Art”. Colin will also have some of his fantastic books available for purchase.

Between 11.30am and 12.30pm, get inspiration from local artist Ray Vintner and watch him give a live painting demonstration on how to paint a Brontë landscape, capturing mood and atmosphere.

Then at 2.00pm Tim Neal will be talking about Keighley’s own artist, writer and TV personality, Stan Boardman. You can also see the amazing exhibition of Stan’s work on display in the library and also at Cliffe Castle, courtesy of Keighley & District Local History Society.

We also have some exciting children’s activities including a guest Storytime with children’s author Simon Wilkinson who will be reading excerpts from his book, “The Mammoth and the Moonstick” and a dinosaur story, followed by Mammoth & Dinosaur arts and crafts, between 11.00am-12.00pm.

Between 2.00pm-3.00pm the kids can also find out about local artist Stan Boardman and his family and friends in Fell Lane and have a go at designing your own notebook, or colour in a Stan inspired picture and add it to our giant mural of an old Keighley street scene.

We will again be joined by some of our amazing local groups and societies. The Queen’s award winning ‘The Men of Worth Project’, will be here to display some of their latest research into our local service men and women and help you with enquiries. Airedale & Wharfedale Family History Society will also be on hand to give advice on family history. Knit & Natter will be showing off their work and knitting skills between 10.00am -12.00pm and Keighley & District Local History Society are also planning to showcase one or two more past local artists.

You can also get crafting with Jean McEwan of Create Connect Make, who will be running a drop in session between 2.00pm -4.00pm where you can ‘Collage your Heritage’. All events are completely free of charge so come along, unwrap your creativity and see what you can discover.