Arthur Delaney was born in Manchester and worked in a textile factory. He began painting for relaxation without any formal training. After his retirement, he became well-regarded with his first one-man show in 1974 selling out within an hour. Delaney was influenced by Laurence Stephen Lowry, another Manchester artist whose industrial landscapes and views of factories and crowds reminded Delaney of his youth and inspired him to create his own landscapes. His work sought to capture the atmosphere of the 1930s, for which he held such nostalgia, yet unlike Lowry, his works were true likenesses of the locations he chose. The two artists were friends, and Delaney painted a striking and frank depiction of Lowry, clearly painted by an artist who knew him well. Close cut and without background, the head is uncompromising within the picture frame; while Lowry is not looking at the viewer, his gaze is nonetheless sharp and piercing, alive with intelligence.