The University of Huddersfield marked artist Ashley Jackson’s 75th birthday – by preserving film of him at work for posterity.
The university’s Heritage Quay archive will house footage filmed during the production of the Yorkshire TV programme My Own Flesh and Blood which focused on Ashley’s life in art.
This has been gifted to the university archive with the permission of ITV and all 24 canisters – 40 reels of film – will be converted to digital for future generations to view.
Holmfirth-based Ashley, an honorary alumnus of the university, was invited to Heritage Quay for a special celebration to recognise his significant on-going contribution to art and the university – and to cut a birthday cake.
The event included the inaugural screening of a short black and white cine film about Ashley taken in his first studio at Dodworth, Barnsley, by the late John Hoyland, a renowned abstract painter.
Commenting on the archive plan, Ashley said: “It is an absolute honour that the University of Huddersfield is to archive my life in film – much of which has never been seen before as over 40 reels were edited down to a one-hour programme.
“The John Hoyland film was taken before 1968 when I was just setting out as a professional artist. It will be a true reflection of a young man in a hurry to make his mark in the art world.
“It will be interesting to take a step back in time and see what my words of wisdom, determination and confidence were – very much like re-opening a time capsule nearly 50 years after you planted it.”
Ashley was joined by wife Anne, daughters Heather and Claudia, son-in-law Aldo Berettoni, the university’s dean of art, design and architecture Mike Kagioglou and university vice-chancellor Prof Bob Cryan.
