William Holt (1897–1977) was born in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, the eldest son of a coal merchant.
[1] At the age of 13, whilst working in a cotton weaving shed, he taught himself several languages.
Holt travelled extensively and had numerous jobs, including deck hand, stunt man, language teacher, newspaper correspondent (during the Spanish Civil War) and BBC broadcaster.
He became active in local political struggles in the late 1920s, becoming the only Communist to be elected to the Town Council.
His huge visionary paintings Christ Overcoming Space and Eternity Diadem, and Consider the Lilies (depicting hymn-singing weavers) attempt to show the triumph of man's spirit over mass production.