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In Pictures: David Hockney, the pop artist whose work endured down the decades

PA Media

The Yorkshireman drew inspiration from his home county, California and France to produce colourful works.

Received: 10:13:57 on 12th June 2026

David Hockney was at the forefront of the pop art movement of the 1960s but embraced new technology in his later years to produce works with gadgets such as iPads after returning to the UK from a long spell in California, where he first moved in 1964.

Settling back in Yorkshire in the coastal town of Bridlington, the Bradford-born artist eventually moved to France but his exhibitions are proving a big draw on both sides of the Atlantic in his latter years.

Not afraid to speak his mind, he was one of the more prominent holdouts against increasing restrictions on smoking and could often be seen puffing on a cigarette.

He never forgot his roots and his work was widely exhibited at Saltaire, the model Victorian village set up in his native West Yorkshire.

His colourful work continued to draw the crowds and in 2012 Queen Elizabeth II made him part of the Order of Merit while more recently the King was also taking counsel from him.

Cementing his national treasure status, he also helped in the design of a Westminster Abbey window.