Did you know Sheila Warburton?

Stanley Warburton (1919-2012) with his self-portrait as a young man at his final one man exhibition ‘An Art Defined’ in April 2012

Stanley Warburton (1919-2012) and his wife Sheila (nee Lomas) lived in Heywood until the early 1990s when they retired to Lytham St Annes.

Stanley Warburton was an artist, Sheila had been a teacher in Heywood. Prior to her death last year (2014) she donated Stanley’s paintings to the Fylde Art collection.

Anne Matthews, a volunteer researcher at the Fylde Art collection ‘Tagging the Treasures’ initiative is trying to find information on Sheila Warburton.

Anne says: “A vast amount of research has been collated by volunteers and two of the paintings under scrutiny ‘Hebden Bridge’ and ‘The Long Causeway looking back to Hepstonstall’ which are the work of Stanley Warburton, whose name may be familiar to many readers.

“Although Stanley’s life is well-documented through his exhibitions, lecturing and valuable work with the Turner Society, researchers at the Fylde Art collection project would love to hear from anyone who knew Sheila.

“Stanley brought a personal vision and style to his landscapes through his intimate knowledge of the villages of his much loved south Pennines.

“Stanley’s first one-man exhibition was held in the 1951 where he met and became friends with L S Lowry, whom he considered his mentor, and who complimented him on that occasion on his painting of Rochdale Town Hall.

“Rochdale Art Gallery has one of his paintings, ‘Butterworth Hall, Milnrow’ and there are also three at Bury Art Gallery and Museum.”

‘Tagging the Treasures’ purpose is to produce an on-line and printed catalogue of the artwork which has been donated to the local people over the past 90 years, highlighting the artists, the paintings and artefacts themselves and also the donors who kindly gave the works.

If anyone has any information or would like to share some memories please contact Anne:

annie@matthews.go-plus.net

01772 684044