Originally hailing from Pitsmoor, an area to the North of Sheffield City Centre, Joe still lives in his hometown to this day on his much loved narrowboat.

Joe went to Marlcliffe School and upon finishing his education at age 16 he got his first job in a factory that produced tinned peas. He went on to become a coal laborer and then a face worker at Thorpe Hesley Colliery, and after nearly six years down the pit Joe began to paint. It was the great contrast of darkness below ground, and the light and colour of the world above that inspired Joe to put paint to canvas. His first painting sold for a ‘fiver’ but he knew he couldn’t work the mines and paint at the same time. Joe left the pit and took various laborer jobs giving him the freedom to paint early in the morning mornings and at night. He says it’s the best thing he ever did. “43 Fitzalan Street. When mum died just after the War, when I was 8, I lived there with my Nan and uncle George. Nan baked every other Tuesday, starting at around 11, Monday was washing day. That’s uncle George, searching for his glasses as usual, which he struggled to see without his glasses on.

The newspaper on the table tells of a Sex Scandal which, if memory serves, was vaguely connected to the Royal Family.”

After a few more moments reminiscing Joe picked up the canvas and turned it over and continued.

“Yes, I thought so. I made this canvas. I couldn’t afford to buy such a big canvas from a posh art shop so I went to Maxeys Upholsterers near Kemsley House in town and bought some deckchair canvas for 6 shillings and 7 pence a yard, acquired a bit of wood and behold a 40”x 30” canvas.”

Outer Dimensions (LxH) 42"" x 82"" (inc frame) 

Comes with authentication certificates from Joe Scarborough Art