A CHAT on Main Street at Haworth when “PKC” was mentioned by other art club members reminded me of two friends who both own a print by the artist.
The print comes from a limited edition of 850 of PKC Jackson’s A3-size painting of The Railway Children. Peter Kenneth Cowley Jackson (1920-2006) often attended the shooting of the 1970s film and captured the actors and extras.
One of his prints was bought locally, and the other from the Grove Gallery in Manchester was marked as £40 plus VAT. The focal point of the picture is the former information office at the top of Main Street with “Antiques” carved on the apex, and its use converted to a butcher shop with details of sides of meat hanging in the window. Everyone is in period costume.
The actors depicted were Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett, Garry Warren, to hear Matt, Walter Hamer the butcher, and Lionel Jeffries at a slight distance. Mr Jackson signed only a few prints at a time, so authenticity was added after he died with “pp R Jackson” by his wife Rosemary.
At Haworth Secondary School my friend was in senior school when Peter, as he was known, came to teach in the old nursery across the road. George Skirrer taught art and other subjects until Peter arrived in 1959. He was also known as PKC and Ken.
My friend sat for PKC to have a head-to-shoulder portrait painted in oils.This was in 1976 for a framed project costing £75. She sat at the Jackson’s house every Saturday for two months for an hour.Mrs Jackson was most hospitable, serving tea and biscuits. One look at the painting and you can still feel my friend’s strong personality.
For many years mature students were tutored by PKC in and around Keighley.
Cath Ingles, a regular demonstrator at Keighley Art Club, worked at Airedale Hospital before moving to York, and she is a professional pastel artist. She has posted information about PKC on our Facebook page.
Mr Jackson received scholarships to to train in art in Leeds and London and, and in 1987 he received the Grand Prix International at the annual exhibition of pastel societies in France.
Some of PKC’s paintings appear on the Internet, including former Prime Minister Harold Wilson, a painting that hangs in the University of Bradford.Other works were local dignitaries, trains, racehorses, and my friend saw a portrait of Peter Black in 1976 at the house.
A picture on the Internet named as a Lancashire village scene is actually Main Street in Haworth.
Art was Mr Jackson’s career, and his three daughters were also talented. Daughter Abigail’s portrait of him, entitled My Dad, is on the Internet. Mr Jackson, painted in media such as charcoal, oils and pastels.
PKC’s paintings were regularly on show at the Friendly public pub in Stanbury, according to my friend. He came across as a genuine, kind person whenever my friend sat for her portrait when visiting their home.
Keighley Art Club meets weekly at Keighley Healthy Living, Scott Street, and it can accept information about PKC on Wednesdays from 6.45pm.
Paintings can be put on the Keighley Facebook page or by calling 01535 669914 in the mornings.
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