Born 1887, Manchester, England.  Died 1976

Although he earned his living as a rent collector and clerk, LS Lowry received formal art training. Initially he had private lessons and then from 1905-15 he studied painting and drawing at the Manchester Municipal College of Art. Then from 1915-25 he studied at Salford School of Art.

His paintings were first exhibited in 1919 at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts and he continued to submit his work and exhibit in other open exhibitions including the Paris Salon and, in 1932, at the Royal Academy in London. In 1930, the City Art Gallery in Manchester bought a painting for its collection and in 1938 he had his first solo exhibition in London.

From this time, Lowry enjoyed great success. Following his death, the Royal Academy held a major retrospective in 1976. His work is in the collections of the Tate Gallery in London, Manchester City Art Gallery and the Lowry in Salford.

Punch and Judy