Born in 1875 in Bowden, South Australia. Started painting while studying at Prince Alfred College with James Ashton. After graduation, he continued his studies with Ashton at his art school in Norwood. 

After the death of his maternal grandfather, who owned a tannery in Bowdoin, his inheritance left him enough to travel to England in 1899 to pursue a career in painting. Lever came to St Ives, which had a reputation as a centre for marine image mainly due to Albert Julius Olsson, the famous British marine painter. Here Haley Lever shared a studio with Frederick Vaughan, studying painting techniques with the Impressionists Albert Olsson and Algernon Talmage. 

Lever's enthusiasm was as strong as his talent, and he quickly gained recognition for his Impressionist‐style marine paintings. Excited to explore a new art form and gain recognition in the art world, he continued to paint with zeal. Lever's nautical pieces are highly valued among antique dealers that buy antiques. Back then, he was a respected member of the St Ives School of painting. Lever's paintings are full of life, vibrant colours, and lightness. He drew inspiration from the Cornish light and seascapes to create works well-received in the British art world. The unique vitality of his work continues to captivate today's viewers and encourage people to search for his masterpieces within antique paintings for sale. Lever was a true master of his craft, creating compelling and beautiful paintings that everyone could appreciate, from artists to art connoisseurs who wanted to buy vintage paintings.

^{Richard Hayley Lever. Street Scene. Circa 1910. Source: wikipedia}

In 1911 the Impressionist painter Ernest Lawson persuaded Lever to move to America, saying he would be a great success there. Haley arrived in the United States in 1912, staying in New York, where he painted views of the Hudson River, Times Square and Central Park. He taught art classes at the Art Students League of New York and participated in international art exhibitions. While living in New York, Richard travelled and painted seascapes in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England. Travelling around America, he visited the East Coast, where he worked for a time in Gloucester and Marblehead, Massachusetts – where he created one of his works about fishing boats in the port of Gloucester whose antique painting price reached $16,000 at an auction in 2020. It was a fantastic result for Haley's work and a testament to his skill as a painter - it's clear that coming to America was one of the best decisions of his life! 

His work can be found in many museums in the USA and Australia and in private collections. So if you're looking to add a piece of unique and captivating artwork to your home or collection, be ready to buy antique art of Richard Hayley Lever. Lever's paintings are a great way to showcase your passion for antiques and add extra high antique valuations to your home.

^{Cover image: Richard Hayley Lever. Summer Sailboats. 1940. Source: wikipedia}