The artist Leslie Smyth tracked down (now with more information)

On Tuesday this week, Denis Hamill asked if anybody knew about an artist called Leslie Smyth, who had lived in Audlem in the '80s. Denis had bought a painting by Leslie Smyth and wanted to know more about the artist and possibly acquire more paintings.

Celia Bloor has contacted Audlem Online to say she has a book called 'Beaches and the Bush, Perth 1963-1965' by Mollie

and Leslie Smyth. She thinks it was written in 1989 and Audlem's own Pam Seddon is thanked for typing it.

It says that Leslie was an economist and moved from the University of Keele

to the University of Western Australia. It includes 4 original colour prints so each book may be unique. There are also black & white drawings and photos. There is another book, Mourne Memories 1940 – 50, but Celia doesn't know where that could be found.

Leslie Smyth starts the book by saying he was in Hull in the 1950s, having graduated from Queen's University, Belfast for the second time. It appears that his children were Moya and

Sean.

Many thanks to Celia for this detective work which, hopefully, will be helpful to Denis Hamill in finding out more about this Audlem based artist who may now live many, many miles away.

Since Celia's information appeared, Audlem's pharmacist, John Wilkinson, has been in touch. He says: "Leslie and his wife were living here when I came to Audlem in 1984. After the death of his wife, Leslie did some engraving on glass and we have a few of his early efforts at the pharmacy. Leslie left Audlem to live almost exactly across the road from the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle, Staffs."

Audlem Online will email Denis Hamill with the information from Celia and John.

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