Keith Turley, grew up in Birmingham and had a long career in teaching before leaving to concentrate on painting. He favours portraiture and figures as subjects, but has produced many different “genres”. Between 1990 and 2010 he produced a long series of commissions for the showbusiness world, which included portraits of many of our late great entertainers for “Blue Plaque” events. These included Norman Wisdom, Eric Morecambe and Tommy Cooper. A collection of these works is housed at Pinewood Studios. This work extended into book illustration and limited edition print.
More recently, the artist has turned his attention to more local subjects, particularly the industrial heritage of the Black Country, such as Chainmaking and the Glass industry. Examples of such work can be seen at Himley Hall, the Red House Glass Cone and Dudley Concert Hall. Portraiture continues in various forms, especially with subjects in interesting workspaces or environments.
Keith was elected a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists in 2016, and is also an ex President of the Birmingham Art Circle, as well as being a member of the long established Birmingham Easel Club. He has also carried out live portrait demonstrations at artists’ clubs throughout the Midlands.
