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My mum bought an oil painting of Brixham Harbour in Devon in 1962 from
an exhibition at The Imperial Hotel in Southport. I always liked it
and it has been a feature in my home for quite a few years. I still
have the original leaflet which advertises the sale. Since reading
info on your site I know now what the cross and other information on
the back means.
In the last few weeks (late Feb/early March 2011) I have
re-discovered two Isherwood’s I’ve had for 40 years. . . and the
memories have come flooding back too. Oxford, probably 1970, an
Isherwood exhibition, I was involved in some way but I can’t remember
the details any more (if you can please post a comment here). . . it
went well (I think), Lily was there of course . . and I ended up with
several paintings which i’ve carted round with me for half a life-time
– knowing I really liked them but never sure what to do with them . .
. Thank you to this site for having confirmed my belief that they were
special!! . . . and for posting the two I’ve found so far in the new
gallery of private collectors’ Isherwoods. It is wonderful to know he
is now widely recognised — and his pictures still carry a power and a
comment that is liberating and exciting. Tudor, Amsterdam
Just a brief word to say I think your comprehensive site on
the life and times of Isherwood is superb. I knew the artist around
50 years ago and all his efforts have now been recognised. I was
delighted to read that one of his works fetched £7,200 in auction. I
have three and have willed them to my grandchildren. Keep up the good
work.
James Lawson, Oxford
How informative and enjoyable to read and learn about
Mr Isherwood very enjoyable web site thank you .
V.V. Manchester
As a Wigan woman with a history of a hard life, I too have
found art as a soul mate . I feel I understand and am greatly
motivated by isherwood.
The portrait of the 100 year old woman who was called “Sarah
Jane” is hanging on the wall above my head as I type this comment.
It captures the dignity of the old lady and you can see her face in
many old people.
A quiet acceptance which is unmissable in her face and with such
quick brushstrokes.
Hauntingly beautiful.
Painted and signed in 1967.
Who was Sarah Jane I wonder? Jim M.
There are lots of fascinating facts on Isherwood on your
website. Well done! He has gained a vast amount of recognition which
is well deserved. Keep up the good work. I never met Isherwood but
your website proves he was an amazing man who was unafraid of
controversy or of speaking his mind. Joe, Wigan
I have just logged onto your website and have found it of
great interest, I would appreciate any information you have available
on a painting called ‘Wigan Rain People’ dated 1973. The painting was
purchased by my grandfather in 1973/74 at an exhibition held by Mr
Isherwood at The Bottle and Glass pub in Rainford Merseyside. In
particular, I am curious with regards to the numbering and lettering
on the back which reads as follows:-
WIGAN RAIN PEOPLE
(cross)
94 SNS
’73
I understand that the cross is a reference to God, and the ’73 is a
reference to the year of the painting, however I was wondering what
’94 SNS’ meant.
Many Thanks, James
Reply by artbyisherwood…..I have emailed you, but thought I would add a reply here too. The cross stands for ‘God help me’, the 73 is indeed the year the painting was done and the 94 SNS is infact the price 94GNS (guineas)
May I say how much I enjoy this Isherwood website. I knew
Jim many years ago when he went around Wigan looking scruffy and
unkempt. He fascinated many people with his odd lifestyle. He once
told me that all he wanted was for Wiganers to understand and like
his painting. It was a shame most folks didn’t take him seriously as
they do now when he’s not here to enjoy fame and respectability. I
never thought to buy an Isherwood painting. Now I wish I had.
Mrs JR. Wigan
I remember Lawrence from my childhood, going into the shop
for leather laces for our footy balls, and watched him painting
sometimes.
I saw a painting of his in the Town Hall it was titled ( CRAWFORD
YARD) this was opposite my old home.Is it possible to get a print of
this painting.
I cant find any mention it anywhere. Mr BG
Reply by Isherwood……..I remember the painting when it was sold at the Town Hall exhibition. I have emailed you a picture of it.
Firstly can I congratulate you on your excellent new website, we have
been a keen collector of Isherwoods for some years, owning at one time
5 paintings. We now own two oils both of which are not listed in your
Gallery. These are “Pink Rain” and a view of Paris. Would you like to
have images of these to add to your Gallery? Patrick
Reply by artbyisherwood……. It would be great to show your paintings in the Private collections section. If you email me the pics, I will add them to the site. – Now added.
May I use your excellent site to say a big thank to
Molly Isherwood, who took on the daunting task of promoting Jim’s
work after his death. Work that people who had not heard of or
wasn’t interested in before his death. Thanks to Molly people not
only from Wigan but from all over the world have his paintings hung
in their homes, enjoying the talent of Isherwood. Ken, Wigan
I have just come back from visiting the Isherwood paintings
exhibition at the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh. I have never seen a
complete collection before and was utterly amazed at the quality and
range of his work. This man must have devoted every waking hour to
his art and I’m sorry he is not here to see his success. In my view,
his paintings are better than those by L S Lowry because they seem to
live and breathe.
Excellent show. I will visit the exhibition again before it closes in
the New Year.
James – Wilmslow.
(I knew about the article thanks to a write-up in the Guardian
newspaper)
I would like to know where Jim was born, you show a photo of
the house but do not say where it is. We have various paintings
purchased in the sales at Wigan and Southport. Thankyou Mrs S, Wigan
Reply by artbyisherwood………….Many thanks for your question. Jim Isherwood was born in Brookhouse Street, Wigan. If you place your cursor over a lot of the photos on the site, a description of the photo will appear.
My wife Eileen and I bought our “Sun People and Dwellings”
at the exhibition at Library Street. We believe it is Scholes on a
wet day. Eileen used to drive up Scholes to Belle Green primary
school every day where she worked. It still evokes the “Wigan” we
remember of the late 60′s and early 70′s before we immigrated to
Canada in 76. The picture occupies a prominent place in our home
reminding us of some of the happiest memories of our life and friends
in Wigan.
Ed & Eileen Sweeney – Oakville, Ontario, Canada
I came back to your website today and found some very interesting new stories. Keep up the good work. PM Wigan
Very nice website. But I have a question…Can you tell me what year Isherwood died, some websites say 1988 and some say 1989. It seems funny that there is a difference in the dates.
Reply by artbyisherwood…..The year Isherwood died is 1989. It seems as though someone got it wrong and others copied it.
It was great to read your story about the ‘Lancashire Mine’ print. I have had one on my wall for years, it has faded a bit, but I still like it. Mine is only signed by Mr Isherwood. Mr Arnold, Wigan
I have only just seen your site, I read about it in this months ’Local Life’ magazine.
The site is very informative, both in reading content and also the gallery.
I have an Isherwood on the lounge wall, I got it at one of the sales in Southport.
S Cross, Orrell.
The new audio with accompanying pictures is brilliant.
To listen to Isherwood taking about his life and paintings whilst looking
at the photographs is fantastic.
He really missed his mother which is sad, but, he seemed to get comfort
by painting her.
The site is a joy to explore, with new things to see every time I look.
Keep up the good work.
Brenda, Lancs
Re: New Audio….It is very interesting and helps to understand him. Joan W.
It is wonderful to hear J Lawrence Isherwood talking about
his life and his work on your site. He was obviously a very
deep-thinking man who suffered for his art. My wife and I have always
loved the vibrant colours in his paintings. He was a unique artist.
Penny and Keith Haslam
Yorkshire.
An excellent informative website. Alan
My wife used live a couple of doors away from Mr Isherwood
on Wigan Lane. On her 18th birthday he posted a painted card through
her door wishing her happy birthday. He had signed it and written a
small message. Steve
Very Interesting website, I found isherwoods life story very interesting and found the site very informative. Marion, Wigan
I have recently been reading about the Isherwood bought by
Lowry which appeared in photographs when Lowry was snapped in his
studio. The title of the photo, which hung on Lowry’s studio wall for
many years, is “Minnie Small with Cat” and not “Woman with Black Cat”
as has been thought for many years.
H.M.Lawler, London.
Very informative site. I recall my days as an undergrad in
Cambridge in the 60s when Isherwood was a regular visitor and would
set up exhibitions anywhere he could. Usually in undergraduates’
rooms. My view is that this great painter was somewhat ahead of his
time. I just regret I didn’t buy one. His scenes of London were my
favourites. Peter, Brighton
What an imformative site on Isherwood. His passionate
paintings of Wigan not only make you think but you can actually feel
the atmosphere, the smoke in your lungs, rain on your face and bitter
cold finger tips from his snow scenes. Helen
Hi, Molly and Florence are my aunties of whom I am very
proud. I never really knew Lawrence, but two of his paintings hang on
our wall in Melbourne Australia…they usually draw interesting
comments from visitors. Richard
Very pleased to see your new site, there are some really great stories. Although I didn’t know Isherwood, I used to see him walking down Wigan Lane. I bought one of his paintings from the family’s first sale in Wigan Town Hall where I met Molly and her son.
Margaret Lowe
Just like to say we have found this web site very
informative. We have learned a lot about a North West artist we knew
very little about until now. Mike and Lisa Oldham
Comment 10 I recall the two Bankes girls who married the two Isherwood
brothers. They were Molly and Florence. They were lovely girls and
the four made a pretty picture outside the Wigan Parish Church. It is
such a shame Jim and Florence’s marriage didn’t last, but good that
Molly and Gordon found lasting love.
Jane Nolan – Scholes
(dictated to my son as I don’t use a computer)
It will be nice to see my memory on your lovely web site.
Comment 9 I was once in a pub near Up Holland and Isherwood was
holding a sale of his paintings. There were about 50 on show and not
one had sold. He gave me a painting of a the Welsh coast. I offered
him £5 but he wouldn’t take it. He told me: “Nobody wants them.” How
times have changed and from your site I have learned that his works of
art sell at the big London auction houses.
Jim Smith, Ormsksirk.
Comment 8 What a great site, so much of the information others are
lacking about his life and what he was really like. Some lovely
pictures, I look forward to seeing more. Gary
Comment 7 A nice website, but its a pity you have not titled any of the
paintings, people like to know what they are looking at . Simon Taylor
Art By Isherwood Reply. Many thanks for your comment Simon. As I do not have titles for all the paintings, I thought it would be better to forgo titling them at this stage. I will try to rectify this issue as I develop the site.
Comment 6 I have just read Isherwood’s life-story on your website. The
artist was obviously a man of many different emotions. Never mind
George Formby, Wigan should have a statue of this great if
troubled artist. PM. Wigan
Comment 5 I have four paintings by J Lawrence Isherwood which I bought
at an exhibition held in premises on Library Street many years ago.
One is a clown, one is of miners leaving the pit, the other of
Lands End and the fourth of Wigan figures in the fog. They still give
me enormous pleasure. This artist was unique – and I’m pleased to say
copied no-one. Joyce. Bolton
Comment 4 I like your Isherwood website very much. I
only met him once when he was a patient at Billinge Hospital in the
early 70s. He was selling little calendars featuring a hand-painted
robin. He promised he’d paint a picture for me and send it by post.
I’m still waiting. What a great character. Joe Hughes. Leigh
Comment 3 A mate who worked at a local TV shop told me that the artist
used to pay his rent with a painting. The owners of the shop used to
use these works of art as tea trays and about 20 were burned when they
had a good clear out. I wonder what they’d have been worth today? Wigan Ron
Comment 2 Like lots of other Wigan people, I used to laugh at
Isherwood. He was often seen, his clothing unkempt, going up and down
Wigan Lane. The garden of his home opposite the Infirmary was an
overgrown wildreness. He once came out and I chatted to him at the
bus stop. He was sad and said he was so hard up he couldn’t afford
tubes of paint. It’s a pity he’s not lived to see his painting become
highly sought after. Mrs P. Wigan
Comment 1 I’m pleased that Jim Isherwood has an official website at
last.
I knew him in the 60s and 70s. What an amazing man and a true artist.
I used to see his paintings in Lowe’s store and in the window of Wigan
Lane Post Office. I wish now that I’d bought one of his Wigan scenes
with figures. It’s excellent he’s being recognised at a great artist. EW. Wigan
