Jack Hellewell  (1920-2000) was born in Bradford. He served with the RAF in North Africa and Italy during the Second World War and the sights and landscape of the times and region impacted his work. He embraced the beauty and cruelty of war and shared his experiences through his art with humour and candour.

After the war Jack studied commercial art at Bradford School of Art and worked as a graphic designer until 1976. An adventurous soul, he and his young family moved to Australia for a few years but returned to Blighty after missing the weather. Following the premature death of his wife he gave up his job and pursued his lifelong passion into a successful art career from his base in a Victorian eyrie overlooking his beloved Ilkley Moor.

He painted predominantly in acrylic, in an expressionist style, often taking the Yorkshire landscape as his inspiration, particularly around the Wharfe Valley. His subjects also ranged from still life to the allegorical. You will find his work on paper, canvas and board – all depending on his means at the time of creation … it isn’t always easy to follow your heart.

A quiet and unassuming man, he found the promotional side of art a nuisance. In his lifetime this caused a few problems, with galleries tearing their hair out when he did not show up for a launch or sent his family to represent him. However, he greatly valued the satisfaction of seeing his work appreciated and collected. He said to one gallery owner, “I want people to enjoy my art. I enjoy it. I want it to bring joy. Or at least a reaction.”

Jack’s work was exhibited several times at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in the 1990s and is in the collections of British Rail, the National Power Company, Rochdale Art Gallery, Manchester City Art Gallery and Provident Financial, Bradford. His work was also featured on the TynesTees arts programme “North-East Line”.