Lawrence Isherwood and L S Lowry

James Lawrence Isherwood (1917–1989) was a British artist, based in the North West but conscious of national and international influence.  He was recognised for his unique depictions of industrial towns, streets, and coastal settings in the North West of England and rooted in lived experience, Isherwood’s work reflects both the industrial character of Wigan and the quieter, coastal environment of the likes of Southport and beyond.

Isherwood spent all of his life living in Wigan, a town defined by coal mining, mills, and dense working-class communities. These surroundings provided him with a deep understanding of Northern industrial life, which he translated into paintings characterised by bold colour, strong composition, and an acute sense of character. His Wigan scenes capture streets, buildings, and workers in an expressionist style, often with humour, which set him apart from his contemporaries, avoiding sentimentality in favour of authenticity.

Influence and Relationship with L. S. Lowry

Isherwood had a direct personal relationship with L. S. Lowry, whom he met several times during his career as part of the North West’s close artistic community. Lowry took a genuine interest in Isherwood’s paintings once being quoted as saying ‘I only buy paintings that I like and I bought an Isherwood years ago’. A wonderful archive photograph exists of Lowry sat at his easel at his home in Mottram with his Isherwood painting proudly hanging above him.

Lowry’s influence on Isherwood was primarily one of subject and conviction rather than style. Both artists believed strongly in the artistic value of everyday Northern life and shared a commitment to painting familiar streets, industrial buildings, and ordinary people. While Lowry’s figures are stylised and iconic, Isherwood’s approach is more expressionist and bold, demonstrating an independent voice shaped by a shared environment rather than imitation.

Importantly, the fact that Lowry collected Isherwood’s work Isherwood in a particularly select group of artists whose work Lowry admired enough to own personally. This act of collecting represents a significant validation from one of Britain’s most important 20th-century painters and firmly situates Isherwood within Lowry’s immediate artistic circle. Lowry was even quoted as stating that Isherwood was ‘the most likely to follow in my footsteps’, a strong endorsement indeed.

View the full Isherwood collection in our Isherwood gallery by clicking here.