NOEL HARRY LEAVER (1889-1951)

Noel Harry Leaver is one of our most popular artists so we have included this mini biography on his work for the many collectors who want to find out more about his life and work.

 Continental Scene & other landscapes

Noel Harry Leaver was born in Austwick, Yorkshire in 1889 but is better known as a Burnley artist, the town in which he lived and worked for most of his life. A huge talent he started his training as an architect and became one of the youngest ever pupils of the Royal College of Art when he started his studies there at age sixteen.

 A Cotswold Village, and other English Scenes

His earlier paintings are softer and looser than his later more accomplished works, but still show his fine understanding of detail and construction. His was particularly known for his treatment of skies.

 Alpine Landscape

Leaver won numerous scholarships and travel bursaries and used them to travel to visit Europe and Norther Africa. His love of architectural form developed with his travels and was continued throughout his career. The treatment of the Alpine landscape in the picture above is very similar to the style he uses for his famous city views of later years, such as the view of Bootham Bar, York below.

 Bootham Bar, York & Other Cathedral cities

His work can be divided into early and later as well as various favourite subject types. His earlier works in which he is still developing his style are usually signed in mixed lower & upper case Noel H LEAVER ARCA. In later life when his reputaion was established he usually signed signed in capitals NOEL H LEAVER, dropping the ARCA.

 In Tunis & other "Eastern" Scenes

Leaver is probably most famous for his 'Eastern' views. These are his North African based works with their distinctive vivid blue skies, arches and mosques. These however constituted only a about a fifth of his output. He did many paintings of English cathedral cities and castles, including some internal church studies. Other areas were his landscapes, although these are less common in his later work and rarer still his flower studies.

 Eastern (North African) Scene

Other site of interest: To see a wide selection of Leavers work visit: noelharryleaver.com

Towneley Hall held an exhibition of his work in 2004 and has a large collection of his work, some of which are often on display. For further information visit: burnley.gov.uk/towneley/