EARLY paintings by renowned Keighley artist Stan Boardman have come to light.

Keighley and District Local History Society has added details of the "exciting" finds to its catalogue of the artist's work.

The paintings were produced in 1959, over a decade before Stan was to achieve national fame and acclaim.

He honed his painting skills alongside running a signwriting business before and after the Second World War.

After buying a large house at Steeton he set-up a studio in the adjoining barn and began working on a series of paintings that would propel him into the public eye.

The 1920s Boy work depicted his memories of growing up in Keighley between the world wars.

The paintings were exhibited at Cliffe Castle Museum in the town in July, 1973, and huge interest was sparked.

Over 50 television appearances, on shows such as Pebble Mill, followed.

And his work and stories even inspired a musical, staged by HYT at Keighley Playhouse in 1976.

The chain of events which led to the 'discovery' of his early work began last month, when Keighley and District Local History Society member Tim Neal gave a talk to Cullingworth Local History Group about Stan's work and life.

"When I give this talk I often find that people share their own stories of knowing Stan," said Tim.

"One man talked about how watching Stan at work doing his sign painting inspired him to take up the craft, whilst another talked about how he had commissioned Stan to paint the signage on his works van.

"A couple of weeks later, the society had a stall at the Bronte Vintage Gathering just outside Cullingworth. We were approached by Catherine and John Bartle, who had heard the talk and wanted to let the society know that they had a couple of landscape paintings by Stan.

"Stan had been a childhood friend of John’s mother and they remained friends for the rest of their lives, his mum often visiting the Boardman family when they owned the Paint Box shop in Silsden. Stan had given John’s mum two oil paintings he'd done, which John recalled being proudly displayed at home.

"John photographed the paintings for the history society – they are magnificent. They are very different in style to Stan's 1920s Boy paintings. The history society was very excited to add these finds to its catalogue of Stan’s work."

Stan died in 1996.