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Posted by Editor on 25th August 2010 at 07:19 PM Video: Geoffrey Key, Salford's best kept secret
by Tony Flynn
Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Geoffrey Key, an artist of immense talent.
Geoffrey has lived in Salford for nearly forty years, which in my eyes makes him a Salfordian even though he was born in Rusholme!
His early education was at Manchester's High School of Art.
In 1958 he commenced degree and post graduate studies at the Manchester Regional College of Art , from where he gained the National Diploma of Design and the Diploma of Associateship of Manchester; the latter with distinction, leading to a postgraduate scholarship in sculpture.
His academic awards include the Heywood medal in Fine Art and the Guthrie Bond Travelling Scholarship.
He later taught at Duke Street secondary modern school in Broughton which later became Broughton Modern, it was here that he made the decision to become a full-time artist.
To say that Geoff has been successful would be a massive understatement, he has exhibited at Salford Art Gallery who own over seventy pieces of his artwork, also at galleries in London, Newcastle, Carlisle, Bradford and Whalley.
Exhibitions abroad have included works in galleries in Dublin, Sydney and Hong Kong as well as in France, Germany and Belgium.
His work has attracted attention from private collectors as well as public galleries, in fact the art critic from The Daily Express famously said: "He has critics, art dealers and buyers raving about his work, not just the best thing to come along since Lowry but going to be much, much better", does praise come any higher that?
In this interview Geoff tells of his early days in Salford, his friends, influences and his "mental sketchbook", a process were he remembers an image he has seen and later records it on his easel or sketch pad.
Personally I find his work to be visually stunning, his images of horse and rider merging into one are mesmerising, his later work showing musicians and dancers are so vibrant and colourful they almost come to life before your eyes.
I found Geoff to be an extremely friendly and jovial host with no pretensions about him whatsoever.
We in Salford should be proud that we have an artist of such stature living in our city, long may he entertain us.
Related Links
Find out more about Geoffrey Key click here
 Comment by modewheel ( member ) 19th June 2011
Geoffrey's art was the start of my collection in 2001. I was captivated by the vibrancy of his colours.
A very personable man and a great bon-viveur. His art though reasonably recognised deserves wider acclaim. |
Comment by Bob 16th April 2011
I wish I had had Geoffrey Key as an art teacher! The man is a legend. |
Comment by chris critch and joe fallon 26th February 2011
Just seen the brilliant interview with Geoff, and we have been saying for years, that he's most probably the finest artist in England.
Geoff you are worthy of a South Bank Show 'Special', but Tony you have beaten Melvyn Bragg to the job! |
Comment by Guest 16th October 2010
fantastic work. He was at Eccles community art gallery today. What a lovely man too |
Comment by Guest 14th October 2010
What a great interview, Geoffrey Key is a brilliant artist. I've got a catalogue from one of his exhibitions, it's full of great work but there's one painting called 'blue boat' I could literally look at all day. Fantastic! RWL |
Comment by Guest 28th August 2010
Great to see Geoffrey Key getting the praise he so thoroughly deserves, his artwork is truly stunning and he seems such a pleasant chap, Salford is proud of you sir!. |
Comment by Guest 27th August 2010
Another great interview with yet another talented Salfordian. Well done Tony. |
Comment by Guest 27th August 2010
Geoffrey Key is certainly one of Britain's best living artists and after collecting his work for many years I have seen many fantastic works, I certainly think his current work is some of the best his produced, great interview! |
Comment by Guest 26th August 2010
Geoffrey Keys, do not be so modest, we in Salford are so pleased to have such a quiet, modest talented artist living with us. Your work is truly outstanding, it is us who thank you for what you are doing in representing Salford in the art world, a shining example, hold your head high Geoffrey. |
Comment by Guest 26th August 2010
Just watched the video that SalfordOnline filmed in my studio - I'm so pleased with the result - many thanks to Tony and his team, who have done a suberb job. And thank you to those who have left such positive comments - I found the feedback really quite moving and it is very much appreciated. best wishes to all, Geoffrey Key |
Comment by Guest 26th August 2010
Good artist....good interveiw.....good on you !!! chris county |
Comment by Guest 26th August 2010
Well done Salford Online, what a gem of a video and a brilliant artist, so much talent around Salford. |
Comment by Paul Kenny ( member ) 26th August 2010
What a gem of a video! so good to hear a sensitive in depth interview with a practicing artist. Its so good to see a fellow artist given time and space to talk about his life and work in depth. it gave me a lot of food for thought and a springboard to look further into Geoff Key and some of the artists who influenced him.
Well done Salford online
paul kenny
www.paul-kenny.co.uk |
Comment by Guest 26th August 2010
brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, can't say any more than that, I'd never heard of Geoff Key till today. Outstanding work Tony. |
Comment by Guest 25th August 2010
Well i look on the site every day and this is the first surprise to see my old art teacher from Broughton modern.He said i would never make it as an artist he was right. If he is watching the video on site may i give my regards, he was a great Teacher
Joe Oneill |
Comment by Guest 25th August 2010
wow. Loved that tony. what a talent that man has. fascinating piece that. learnt a lot from that interview. thanks for the interesting history lesson. more please. |
Comment by Guest 25th August 2010
What a bloody genius!, this is the best video I have ever seen on SalfordOnline, this is worthy of any television arts documentary show, I am astounded that we have such a hithero unknown artist in Salford, what a find. This man is a rare talent and we should be proud of him, before today how many people in Salford had ever heard of Geoffrey Keys?. Thank you SalfordOnline. |
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