Ian Croden (1946 – 1990) was born in Keighley; his parents were James, an engraver by profession, and mother, Mary (nee Casey). Ian studied art at Bradford School of Art and later worked with Peter Black of Keighley. Peter Black was a major manufacturer in Keighley of footwear, homewares, toiletries, gifts, cosmetics and furniture, and during the late 1960s and early 1970s Ian was employed as a product designer with the company.
However, he had an ambition to paint for a living and whilst on holiday on the Yorkshire coast in 1975 found and purchased an empty shop and flat on the High Street in Staithes that he converted into an art gallery, that he titled ‘The Smugglers Gallery”. Ian, his wife, Mavoureen, that he married in 1968, and their baby daughter, Samantha, moved into the gallery in April 1976.
Ian painted predominantly coastal scenes in and around Staithes, including Whitby, that he sold in the gallery. He also co-authored the book: ‘Staithes: A Collection of Facts and Fantasy About a North Yorkshire Community‘, published in 1977.
Staithes by Ian Croden. In a private collection.