Biography
Born in Leeds to Polish Jewish immigrants, Philip Naviasky won a scholarship to the Leeds School of Fine Arts in 1907 when he was 13 years old. In 1912, aged only 18, he was accepted into the Royal Academy Schools, the youngest ever student at that time. He went on to gain a Royal Exhibition award from Board of Education for three years at the Royal College of Art.
On completion of his studies he returned to Leeds, taking up a teaching position at the Leeds College of Art. Naviasky was predominantly a portrait artist, specialising in oil paintings of female and child sitters. He regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1914-54 and also at the Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Royal Glasgow Institute, New English Art Club, and various successful solo exhibitions.
Among his portrait sitters were Lord Nuffield the industrialist, the politicians Ramsay Macdonald and Viscount Philip Snowden. He also worked extensively abroad, including France, Italy, Spain and Morocco. After a long and successful career, Naviasky died in 1983; his work is represented in many UK public collections, including the Atkinsons Art Gallery, Bradford Museum and Gallery, University of Leeds, Harris Museum and Art Gallery and the Hepworth Wakefield.