The Gresley Family has given us three generations of talented painters. Known as Derbyshire artists all of the family are known for their excellent quality watercolours, especially of the rural and hilly landscapes of the dales.l

James Stephen Gresley (1829-1908):

J. S. Gresley was the first generation of a famous family of artists including his son Frank and grandson Harold. His addresses in Derbyshire include Draycott and Borrowash although in later life he lived at Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire. He was elected to the Notts Society of Artists

Frank Gresley (Ex1855-1936):

The son of James and father of Harold. Frank lived and worked in Chellaston, Derbyshire and exhibited 9 times at the Nottingham Art Gallery

Harold Gresley (1892-1967):

Harold Gresley was the third generation of this famous family of Derbyshire artists. He studied at the Derby School of Art in 1912, Nottingham in 1919 (under Arthur Spooner) and later at the Royal College in London. Taught at Repton School and lived for a while at Chellaston nr Derby

Cuthbert Gresley (1876-1963):

Cuthbert is the least known of the family as a watercolur painter. Son of Frank & brother of Harold he was a resident artist at the Crown Derby factory

All of the family painted around Bolton Abbey, with the Abbey, The river Wharfe and nearby views appearing in many paintings.

Harold is best known for his Derbyshire dales views, although his love of mountain and dales scenes have also been applied to ther areas of the country such as North wales and Snowdon

Derby Art Gallery held a major exhibition of their work in 2001. For further information: click here for Derby Art Gallery