John Copley (1875-1950)

Painter and printmaker, born in Manchester. Copley studied at Manchester School of Art, in the studio of Watson Nicol and Arthur Cope and at the RA Schools, then spent ten years in Italy. He exhibited at the Cooling Galleries, Goupil Gallery, NS, RA, RSA, RBA, ISSPG and with the NEAC. He took up lithography in 1907 and became Honorary Secretary of the Senefelder Club, 1910-16.In 1930 he won the major award at the First International Exhibition of Lithographs at the Chicago Art Institute. Elected RBA in 1930 he was married to the artist Ethel Gabain. A retrospective exhibition of his work was held at Agnew's, London in 1990 and examples of his work are in the collections of the British Museum, V&A, University of Wales, Aberystwyth and the Yale Center for British Art. With thanks to artbiogs.co.uk