IVAN'S EARLY YEARS
Ivan Robert Webley was born in Staines, Middlesex on the 9th of March 1941. His natural mother had to give him up for adoption. At the age of 2 months old he was adopted by Cyril and Phyllis Webley who loved him dearly. Ivan was a bright and hyperactive child who grew up playing on and around the rubble of bombsites in post WWII Birmingham with his cousin and fellow adventurer, Norman Webley.
At a very young age Ivan earned a scholarship to go to a leading boy’s day school, King Edwards Birmingham where he commenced his education in the Classics, English, Art and History as well as Sports (particularly Rugby, Javelin and Cricket). Ivan began to explore Art and Music through playing in skiffle groups and learning the fundamentals of painting and drawing. He became an Army cadet and narrowly missed National Service. He graduated from King Edwards Birmingham school for boys at the age of 18 in 1959.
In the 1960s Ivan went into higher education at the Birmingham School of Art where he Honed his rich and expressive painting style in oils and watercolours as well as studying the Masters and immersing himself in British Art History.
Ivan found himself at odds with the laid-back and progressive and contemporary approach to art he encountered there due to his classical academic background he had experienced as a boy.
After earning his degree, Ivan earned his teaching certificate. He made a living whilst studying by working with Irish builders to rebuild parts of Birmingham that had been destroyed in the blitz.
CAREER
Ivan started out as a youth worker running Scouts and youth clubs during the 60s. During this time Ivan was interested in community-oriented teaching and running classes for all age ranges in sports, the arts and art history. Ivan fell deeply in love with the beauty of Northumberland and moved to Morpeth where he married and had 3 children with his first wife. Due to his good education, talent and infectious enthusiasm for teaching, he had a successful career as a teacher and became a deputy headmaster at King Edwards VI in Morpeth.
He introduced adult education evening classes to Morpeth through the utilisation of King Edward High schools’ facilities where he and outside artists taught silversmithing, sculpture, stained glass making, airbrushing, oil painting and art history to the public. Ivan also ran painting, music and wine tasting weekends at Ford castle through the early 80s. In the mid-80s Ivan resigned from teaching after re-marrying and went on to become a self-employed artist. He worked hard to continue painting and raising four children with his new partner.
In the 90s, Ivan returned to teaching part time to support his family and continued to find ways of bringing art and education to the community by running evening classes as well as doing commissions, teaching in care homes, and giving one-to-one tuition to help students with disabilities.
LATER LIFE
Throughout his later years, Ivan used what little space and time he had to continue his craft. His retirement was spent supporting his children any way he could and spending the early hours before the dawn quietly painting in his partner Jean’s garage. Ivan’s choice to focus on his home of Morpeth lead to hundreds of gorgeous paintings depicting every hidden gem, view, path or scene of this famous market town.
Whilst painting late into the night, Ivan suffered a posterior embolism and soon after, sadly passed away on the 1st of June 2023. He was 82 years old.
IVAN'S LEGACY
Throughout Ivan’s life he managed to raise 7 children, taught thousands of people, passed on his knowledge and produced hundreds of incredible artworks for his community. He was a very humble man that had bottomless creativity and generosity.
He was a very progressive man for his generation and a very involved father when it came to supporting his children. After a second divorce Ivan settled down for a third time and lived out his last years enjoying painting, sitting in the garden and enjoying great cooking with his partner. Ivan left a truly breathtaking legacy to all of us with his paintings that evoke nostalgia and depict real life memories of our home. He contributed so much to Morpeth through his passion for the arts and education.
His body of work historically documents and preserves the inherent beauty of Morpeth and Northumberland as it has changed over half a century.
WHERE TO SEE IVAN'S ORGINALS
Ivan’s life’s work as an artist is his legacy to us all and his wish was that one day it could be enjoyed by all who shared his deep appreciation of our sacred Northumbria. You can see Ivan’s work in the Joiners’ arms, the Electric wizard, the Old Nags Head Yard and in many homes in and around Northumberland.
With a tremendous amount of guidance from friends and family as well as the amazing support from some of Morpeth’s well-loved entrepreneurs, Ivan’s son Robin has begun collating and producing Ivan’s best paintings as prints, cards and canvasses.
You can see them up in Dave’s gentlemen barbers on Newgate Street and In Santander bank on Bridge Street.
Morpeth’s chamber of trade is working to have his biggest commissions permanently installed in Morpeth Town Hall.
PURCHASE IVAN'S PAINTINGS
If you wish to purchase your own, you can at FIKA Gallery on Oldgate Street, right next to the clock tower.
They are also available to order on this site, or via the contact details below.
If you have any questions, stories, information or interest in owning some of Ivan’s work please get in touch with Robin, he would love to hear from you.