Retiring Ribble Valley headteacher draws up new career as artist (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Retiring Ribble Valley headteacher draws up new career as artist

4:40pm Sunday 22nd November 2009

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AFTER nearly 30 years of inspiring budding Van Goghs and Lowrys, a Ribble Valley headteacher is taking early retirement to become a full time artist.

David Lloyd who has chalked up 28 years in teaching will dismiss his class for the last time next month.

The headteacher of Grindleton and Bolton-by-Bowland Primary Schools will say farewell to staff and pupils after 10 years in the role.

The 51-year-old first fell in love with creating artwork when he met internationally-renowned artist Harold Riley when he was just eight years old.

Now, he will be getting out his paints and easel with a view to opening his own gallery at his holiday home in France.

The former Rugby league player who lives in Bolton said: “After doing a degree in art I put my painting on the back burner and went straight into teaching and moved up through the ranks.

“But I’ve decided to go full time as an artist. It’s something I need to do because I don’t ever want to have any regrets about my life.

“Art is a fantastic form of expression and I have a talent for it so I want to make sure I use it.”

The father of one currently has two exhibitions of his abstract artwork in the Ascot Studios in Ribchester and the Bolton Museum and Art Gallery.

“I love teaching and will really miss inspiring children but I need time to be creative,” he said.

“I will miss the rapport I have built with the children and staff and the buzz that you get from making them enthusiastic about their subjects.”

As a youngster, Mr Lloyd attended workshops run by Salford artist Harold Riley, who was a great friend of L. S. Lowry.

He said: “When I was at primary school my teachers recognised that I had a talent for art so they sent some of my work to Harold who selected me for his special workshops.

“He was fantastic and inspired me a great deal.”

Mr Lloyd then went on to study art and geography at Manchester University before deciding to go into teaching in 1981.

Since then he has taught at a number of different institutions in Salford, Bolton and Lancashire.

He said: “I have had a fantastic career in teaching and I want to say thank you to all the people who have made it so worthwhile.

“It will be sad to leave but I’ll be doing something I really enjoy.”