David Hockney: Bradford's artistic genius who painted the things he loved

David Hockney, widely regarded as Britain's favorite artist, has died at the age of 88. Known for his trenchant views and distinctive Yorkshire accent, Hockney was a genius across multiple artistic mediums, including paint, photography, and digital art on iPads. His work spanned opera design and intimate pen-and-ink drawings, earning him acclaim throughout the 1960s and continuing to draw large crowds decades later.

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Paint the things you love

One of Hockney's swimming pool paintings achieved a record nearly £70 million at auction in 2018, making him the most expensive living artist at the time. Despite his success, Hockney remained grounded, adhering to a simple rule: "Paint the things you love." Born in Bradford in 1937, his father was a conscientious objector, and his mother was a devout Methodist. Hockney was one of five children in a close-knit family.

From a young age, Hockney was devoted to drawing, even using hymn books as a substitute for paper during wartime shortages. As a scholarship student at Bradford Grammar School, he focused solely on art, reportedly stating, "I am no good at science but I can draw." His passion was evident, though a tutor once misguidedly noted that "enthusiasm for Art alone is not enough to make a career."

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I am no good at science but I can draw

Hockney's early career included a stint in National Service as a conscientious objector, where he worked in a morgue. Later, at the Royal College of Art in London, he embraced a bohemian lifestyle while dedicating himself to painting. Influenced by his classmate RB Kitaj's advice to "ignore everyone else and simply paint things he loved," Hockney explored themes of politics, literature, and his own homosexuality in his art.

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It was the best advice I ever had