Pioneering artist John McCombs dies

Artist John McCombs

A famous and pioneering artist who captured the moods and magic of Saddleworth, and its people, has died.

John McCombs passed away on Tuesday evening at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

John, from Manchester, first came to the area when he was on a walk with a friend.

He was studying at St Martin's College in London.  

He was intrigued by the name Delph and, impressed by the ancient stone-built village under glorious morning sunshine and surrounding snow covered hills, he vowed to his friend, “When I’ve finished at college this is where I’m going to come to live and paint.”

He turned down the offer of a job at St Martin's College and settled in Saddleworth, where he established himself as a professional artist and later opened the highly respected John McCombs Gallery in Delph.

He was elected as Member of three Royal Art Societies based in London, but in 1975 he was elected as a Member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.

He worked in private collections all over the world and in public collections in the north west, including Manchester Art Gallery.

In addition, he illustrated many art books, magazines and had works shown on television.

His enthusiasm and ambition very soon saw him elected onto the Council of the Academy and also onto the Exhibition Selection and Hanging Committees.

John loved the hands-on approach to exhibiting - with his exhibiting habits he began to steadily build a national reputation, winning several prestigious art prizes.

In 2009 he was elected President of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.

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