Mystery death of 'world's leading expert on Lowry'

DAD-OF-ONE WAS FOUND DEAD IN BULGARIA

- CHRIS SLATER

MOVING tributes have been paid to an art dealer who was the 'world's leading expert' on LS Lowry and whose death at his Bulgarian holiday home remains shrouded in mystery.

Dad-of-one Ivan Aird, 57, from Stockport, was found dead at the apartment in the resort of Sunny Beach last June.

A post-mortem was inconclusive and a coroner has ruled she is unable to say what caused his 'sudden' and 'unexpected' death. Ivan, born and raised in Cheadle, was an art dealer, like his father George Aird, who was friend and agent to Stretford-born artist Lowry.

Ivan would regularly spend time with Lowry as a child, which sparked a lifelong passion for and love of his work.

When he became an adult he set up his own art dealership and was highly thought of in the art world where he was considered the world's leading authority on Lowry.