Now it seems one prolific Wigan painter traded his canvases to buy his mother flowers!
Fifty never before exhibited paintings by the charismatic artist James Lawrence Isherwood are curently on display at the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh.
The paintings belonged to the late Wigan florist William “Billy” Higham. Both men were born in 1917, grew up doors apart in their small Wigan terraces and attended the same primary school. But while their early days were similar their adult lives were poles apart. Isherwood’s world – like his paintings – was unpredictable and often chaotic, a stark contrast to the respected churchgoing businessman who grafted out a successful chain of florists.
Yet despite their changing fortunes they remained close throughout their lives.
The paintings have been loaned to the gallery by Billy’s nephew John Higham, 65, from Standish.
John said: “Jim was a regular visitor to Billy’s shop in Makinson Arcade, always wearing a black velvet beret and a large black cloak. There’d always be a painting in the office when he’d gone and he invariably left with flowers for his mother.”
His mother, Lily, was his inspiration and Isherwood remained the doting son until her death in 1973.
Since his own death in 1989 Isherwood’s paintings and popularity have grown – some paintings selling at Sotheby’s for thousands of pounds.
Isherwood selling paintings at the roadside; picture courtesy of Geoffrey Shryhane.
Isherwood is as culturally important to Wigan as Lowry is to Salford. Martyn Lucas, the exhibition’s organiser, explained why his popularity continues to grow.
He said: “Isherwood was either in the wrong place at the wrong time or the right place at the right time. Here he was painting in the style of late 19th century Parisian impressionists and early 20th century German expressionists in a northern provincial town of the 60s and 70s, and there lies the fizz and frisson in his work.”
The exhibition continues at the Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, until January 2.
Isherwood selling paintings at the roadside; picture courtesy of
Geoffrey Shyrhane.
