Jack Crabtree

Jack Crabtree (1938–2026) was an English contemporary figurative painter and teacher. He is known for a series of paintings documenting the South Wales coal industry.

Early life and education Crabtree was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England in 1938, the son of Roland Crabtree, a gasworks labourer and Lilian, a cotton mill worker. then at Saint Martin's School of Art, London (1957–59) and then at Royal Academy Schools, London (1959–61).

Crabtree was elected a member of the 56 Group Wales (1971–75).

In 1994 he retired to Nantlle, in North Wales, with the loft of his house converted into a studio. He continued to work, despite gradually losing his sight.

Style Crabtree was known as a Social Realist, and he was commissioned by National Coal Board to illustrate the working lives of South Wales miners in south Wales. Other commissions came from BP, Rochdale Education Authority and a mural for the Diocese of Monmouth. His 1990 show at the Kerlin Gallery, Dublin, included several dozen studies of the Irish writer Francis Stuart, his tribute to the painter Francis Bacon, whose work he held in high regard.

Teaching 1961–66: Salford School of Art, and teaching in schools in the Salford and Rochdale area. Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield National Library of Wales National Museum Cardiff National Trust, Mount Stewart, County Down Newport Museum and Art Gallery, Newport Ulster Museum, Belfast University of South Wales (Glamorgan), Gregynog Hall, Tregynon, Newtown

Writing on Instagram, MuseumWales said: "We're saddened to learn of the death of artist Jack Crabtree, whose work offered a powerful and compassionate portrait of working-class life. Crabtree developed a distinctive social realist style, documenting miners, steelworkers, industrial communities and everyday people with humanity, insight and respect."