Alan Lowndes (British, 1921-1978)

Alan Lowndes (British, 1921-1978)
The Weavers Arms, Huddersfield
signed and dated 'Alan Lowndes 66' (lower left); titled 'THE WEAVERS ARMS, HUDDERSFIELD' (verso)
oil on board
55 x 46 cm. (21 5/8 x 18 1/8 in.)

Provenance
Private Collection, Geneva
With Crane Kalman, London, December 1995, where purchased by the present owner

Exhibited
London, Crane Kalman Gallery, A Lowndes A Retrospective, Oct-Dec 1995

‘I know every stick and stone here. I paint what I know.’ - Alan Lowndes

Alan Lowndes born in 1921, grew up in Stockport and was a self-taught artist. He began painting after serving in WWII and attended Stockport College in the evenings and began painting full-time in the late 1940s.

His first solo-show was held at Crane Kalman, which in 1950 had its gallery roots in Manchester. To many, Alan Lowndes painted in a style reminiscent of one of Britain’s most significant artists, Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976). There were some key similarities between the two artists despite the fact Lowndes was born much later and not recognised as a follower of Lowry. Both artists were identified through their vivid depictions of working class life and northern scenes.

Lowndes in comparison to Lowry, Lowndes were on occasion affectionate view of the communities he painted in comparison to Lowry’s eerie tone. Lowndes was encouraged by artist John Minton and became associated with the Kitchen Sink School and St Ives group. During the 1950s, he spent time in St Ives, Cornwall, where he formed friendships with members of the St Ives School, including Sir Terry Frost. This experience had a notable impact on his art, inspiring him to explore a wider variety of subjects and develop a more sophisticated painting style.