Local artist Anthony John Conway chats to JLife’s Kirsty Plowman about his extensive creative career ahead of his forthcoming exhibition at Manchester Maccabi.
“Wherever I am I try to paint or draw each day; every day I find inspiration.” says Whitefield artist Anthony John Conway, who discovered his passion for art at the early age of five.
His artistic beginnings began in 1949 when he visited one of his late uncles, an artist, in London.
“My uncle helped me to paint; I used to ask him all sorts of questions – I drove him mad but I’ve been painting ever since!”
Anthony’s artwork – paintings, drawings and illustrations – is traditional focusing on all subjects using a range of mediums.
He said: “I don’t do modern art and I’m an unusual artist as I don’t stick to using one medium. Oils, watercolours, pastels, acrylics, pens and pencils – I use them all.”
Like his uncle, Anthony has been inspired by the Italian city of Venice – by its beauty but also because of his ancestral links.
He said: “I adored painting in Venice; it’s a big inspiration as my grandparents lived in the city’s ghetto.”
And from Venetian landscapes to Mancunian backdrops, Anthony boasts a vast collection of artwork depicting many parts of the North West city including Prestwich, Whitefield, Salford and the city centre.
Before becoming a professional artist outright, Anthony spent 26 years teaching art at King David Junior School – the school he used to attend as a young boy.
Reflecting on his time working at the school, he said: “I thoroughly enjoyed it and was surprised how well each child took the subject, often picking up difficult concepts quickly.”
After suffering a heart attack Anthony retired and has dedicated his time to becoming a professional artist.
Aside from supplying work for exhibitions, undertaking commissions and producing prints for various shops around Manchester, Anthony helps run Whitefield Painting Club, a group which meets twice weekly with portrait sessions on Mondays and life studies on Fridays.
Anthony also seeks to support charities and in March this year an exhibition of his artwork was on board the P&O Britannia, launched by the Queen, which helped to raise funds for the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund.
In the 90s Anthony helped to raise around £5,000 for The Christie Hospital through his illustrations for a book called ‘Lighted Candles’.
His latest creative quest will see his artwork on display at Manchester Maccabi from 1st September for two months during the club’s normal opening hours. Showcasing black and white prints of Manchester scenes from 1930s through to 1950s, all profits from the exhibition will be shared with Manchester Maccabi.
For more information on the exhibition at Manchester Maccabi, visit Manchestermaccabi.org.uk. To contact Anthony, call 0161 773 6497.
