He was a working class lad from Salford who moved with royalty, world political leaders, sporting legends, rocks stars, and famous actors. But he never lost the common touch.
He used his skills to capture both the youth and hope of President John F Kennedy in 1962 and the neon glow from Neil's Friery chip shop on Langworthy Road on a snow-flecked winter's night.
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Artist Harold Riley, who has died aged 88, has left a vast legacy of work which ranges from portraits of Prince Philip and Pope John Paul II to the backstreets and characters of his home city. He even drew portraits of the staff at Salford Royal Hospital who cared for him during bouts of illness during recent years.
Amongst those who paid tribute was Sir Alex Ferguson. Harold produced a stunning painting of the former manager and they shared a strong mutual respect. Harold played for United's academy under Sir Matt Busby.
A Salford Grammar old boy - he attended with life-long friend, actor, Albert Finney - in 1951 he won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art in London. But his promise had flowered six years earlier.
Harold was 11 years old when he first met LS Lowry. He was awarded first prize by the artist at a Salford Grammar School art exhibition in 1945. They were friends for 30 years. Lowry engineered the first sale of a picture by Mr Riley. He invited him to Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and had a word with Albert Frape, curator at the time. Lowry suggested a price of 30 shillings which Frape paid and Mr Riley used the cash to buy a new plaid shirt.
In 2017 Harold was awarded the Freedom of Salford and he chose to exercise the ancient rights it gave him. These included the right to drive sheep through the city - so he mustered four pedigree Derbushire Texels from a farm to meander slowly down the A6.
He told the Manchester Evening News on the day he was given the accolade: “This is the greatest honour I have received - it is the highlight of my career. I love this city. I love its people.” Among those previously awarded the honour was Mr Riley’s friend and mentor, L S Lowry in March 1965.
Mr Riley remained devoted to his roots during his 72-year career - and the city recognised that spirit by awarding the honour for only the 24th time since 1899. Among those attending the ceremony at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery were Sir Alex, Sir Bobby Charlton, and United legends, Denis Law, and Willie Morgan.
As well as painting American presidents, sporting greats, and Nelson Mandela, his sketches of Salford, including the people who walked its streets make up a huge part of his work.
Sir Alex told the Manchester Evening News: "News of Harold Riley’s passing brings instant sorrow to the people of Manchester and Salford. Having first met him in 1986 when I arrived in Manchester, his reputation was well established as a working class man who had risen to great heights as a unique artist who never lost his roots.
"He had a style of his own and his generosity in supporting countless charities still reverbates round the streets of his home town. When Harold spoke of donations of his work to these worthy causes he spoke as if it was the first painting he had ever produced, such was the enthusiasm of his words. It was a privilege in my life and for many, many others to call him a friend."
His family, told the Manchester Evening News: "Salford has lost one of its most humble, compassionate and loving sons. Harold’s light shone brightly for all to see and through the legacy of his art, it will never go out.
"He lived by simple principles: to love, to give and to serve every person equally no matter their position, colour, nationality or faith. He taught us to give love, trust and never judge each other regardless of any consequence. He suffered his long illness deeply and quietly with patience and the strength of his faith and is now finally at rest."
His wife, Ashraf, said: “I have lost my soulmate, my companion and my love”. His daughters, Kate, and Sara, said: “He was the king of our family with the purest and biggest of hearts, our protector, confidante and shoulder to snuggle on. We loved him unconditionally; he will forever be in our hearts."
His grandchildren said: “Grandad was an inspiration, influential in shaping the way we have grown up through his values, generosity of spirit, love and kindness. We will miss him so much”.
His work, and education meant any Salford rough edges in his accent were smoothed, away, but his love of his city was deep and authentic. He continued to lived in the city at Salford Quays in flat overlooking his beloved Old Trafford.
It was fitting that as an old flame of hers in the 1950s before she shot to fame as a playwright with the iconic A Taste of Honey, he unveiled a memorial to Shelagh Delaney in 2014. Harold returned to her former home, 77 Duchy Road, Salford where she penned the groundbreaking play, to unveil a commemorative plaque.
He was generous with both his time and art. Harold was the only artist for whom Nelson Mandela sat for a portrait - and he did 23 drawings in preparation for the painting which was later sold for $1m at the Rockefeller Centre in New York to raise money for South African charities.
Despite being in intensive care for four weeks, he was determined to help the NSPCC. in 2017. So he drew his wife Ashraf as she sat in his room at Salford Royal Hospital. The sketch sold for an astonishing £55,000 at an auction held for the charity’s ChildLine service.
Harold Francis Riley was born in 1934 and his first home was a terraced house in Kara Street in Seedley. The house was bombed during the Lufwaffe's attack on Salford and the family moved to Lower Kersal, and then Brookfield Avenue, near the then Hope Hospital.
After completing a course at Slade School of Fine Art he won a travel scholarship to Italy, followed by a British Council Scholarship to study in Spain and went on to study in Florence and Spain before returning to Salford, where he has lived ever since.
On his return to Salford in 1960, Harold believed his main work was to document the city and his life-cycle in paintings, drawings and photographs. His deep affection for his home town cemented a friendship with L.S. Lowry which began when Harold was a student; together they worked on a project to record the area and its people.
In 1962 he married Austrian, Hannelore Reuter, and they had a daugter, Kate. Hannelore died in 1973 and in 1975 Harold married Persian, Ashraf Danesh, with whom he had daughter, Sara.
Harold’s commissioned painted portraits include Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, Pope John XIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, American Ambassador Elliot Richardson, and United States Presidents John F. Kennedy and Gerald Ford.
Harold was famous worldwide for his sporting pictures, particularly of golf and soccer. His golf images are in private and public collections throughout the world.
His football pictures centred largely around his links with Manchester United. The club has an extensive collection of his work, but the majority remains in his Archive housed ina studio near the old Fire Station on The Crescent, with help from Salford City Council.
A Charitable Trust, The Riley Educational Foundation has been set up to look after his life’s work. Over the last 25 years, Harold Riley had been commissioned, by the Alfred Dunhill Company to record their championship and golfing events all over the world.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “It is with great sadness that I have recently heard of the passing of Harold Riley. The flag at Salford Civic Centre has been lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect for one of this city’s most famous sons and treasured artists.
“In Salford we are incredibly lucky to have been blessed with two of Britain’s foremost artists of the 20th century – Harold Riley and L.S. Lowry, who were friends for 30 years, charting over 100 years of the social history of Salford through their art. Salford gave L.S. Lowry the freedom of the city in 1965 and 52 years later Harold Riley also followed his friend and accepted this prestigious honour.
“From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank Harold for all he has done for our great city, he had the true Spirit of Salford with a deep love for the people, communities and an unwavering commitment to his city, Salford.
“Harold was a humble eloquent man with a great sense of humour and with the ability to put everyone at ease particularly through his many stories about his life in Salford and wider experiences travelling the world as an artist.
“Harold was a very generous man contributing to numerous good causes across the City over his lifetime. The list is long, but to name just one, Harold donated 100 original works to Salford Royal Hospital along with 100 prints of these works that are now on display around the hospital to support patients and staff.
“He will be sorely missed, and Salford is very much the worse for his passing – Rest in Peace Harold.”
Tom Stannard, Chief Executive at Salford City Council said: “Harold was a renowned artist, known throughout the world but he remained devoted to his home city. He was given the Freedom of Salford in 2017 and after the ceremony had the opportunity to drive a small flock of sheep up the Crescent.”
Former Salford City Council, Chief Executive, Barbara Spicer, said: "I first met Harold after taking over at the council and we quickly became friends, sharing many a chuckle at his anecdotes. He was the absolute epitome of a gentleman. With an address book to rival any A-lister Harold treated everybody he met with the same warmth, affection, and respect; whether they were a Hollywood actor or one of the veterans from Broughton House.
"The fact that he chose to stay and work in his beloved city says much about him. I will especially treasure the small personal drawings he did of me and my family. My heartfelt condolences go out to Ashraf and his family that he so clearly adored."
In a statement staff from Salford Museum & Art Gallery, said: "We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Salford artist Harold Riley. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.
"Harold has been a huge part of Salford Museum & Art Gallery over the years, not only through his wonderful personality but also in his artistic contribution. As well as painting well-known figures, he spent much of his time recording the lives of people in Salford, and the significant changes to the city, through painting, photography and drawing. This love for Salford was reflected in his work and he enjoyed close links with the museum over the years, popping in frequently as he worked from his nearby studio. Harold will be greatly missed."
The museum holds a number of Harold’s works and some are currently on display as part of the exhibition ‘"Exploring the Collection" which is open until 30th April.
As well as his wife and children, Harold leaves grandchildren, Hannelore, Luke, and Saffron. He died on Tuesday this week after living for several years with neurological autoimmune condition.
At the presentation of the Freedom of Salford award for Harold, Sir Alex praised Mr Riley’s famous generosity to local and international charities and told the ceremony: “He won’t let you forget United didn’t sign him, but I am sure your richness of your life has made up for that.”
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