The painter, designer and art teacher, Harold Auty (1923-1989), was born in Keighley and lived at Exley Mount in the town.
He attended Keighley Boys’ Grammar School and in 1941 gained a regional scholarship to study full time at Keighley School of Arts and Crafts. However, his studies were interrupted when he was conscripted for army service in the Second World War. He served as an art instructor, and after the war stayed on in Germany with the occupation forces teaching art for education, leisure or therapy purposes.
Returning to Britain in 1947, he resumed art studies at Leeds College of Art and in 1949 his student artwork was selected for display at Bradford Civic Theatre. He completed a teaching course and a design course at Leeds, which included the opportunity to study in Paris.
He was an active member of Keighley Art Club and exhibited his paintings and etchings at the club shows in the late 1940s and early 50s, attracting praise from the local press. He was also also interested in amateur theatre and designed scenery for Gilbert and Sullivan societies at Knowle Park Congregational and Lees Methodist churches.
In the early 1950s Harold was appointed as an art master at Windermere Grammar School (renamed later, The Lakes School) where his enthusiasm for Gilbert and Sullivan led to him designing costumes and sets for many annual productions at the school, as well as other school plays. He remained at the school for over 25 years and is remembered still for his imagination and use of bold colour for stage designs and costumes, despite the restraints of post-war austerity in the early 1950s.
He became Head of Art, and Sue Cooper, who was Harold’s assistant at the school, fondly remembered his work there. Writing in the history of the school: ‘St. Anne’s to the Lake District. A History of Windermere School’ by Andrew Rosthorn, 2013, she said of him:
I was newly qualified and he taught me so much about the history of art and the theatre, especially about the process and practice of painting. His legacy lies in the many pupils who went on to become artists in later life. His work in theatre and costume design is legendary and this enriched the life of the whole school beyond measure. Lucky the child who was touched by his vision.
Harold Auty at the school early 1970s.
Set design for ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ by Harold Auty. Image: in a private collection.
Kilnsey Crag. Image: in a private collection.