Painter, muralist and draughtsman, and teacher, born in Bristol. Butler studied there at the West of England College of Art, 1965–6, and at Kingston upon Thames College of Art, 1966–9. In the 1980s he worked on a number of London murals, including the Shepherd’s Bush Peace Mural, near where he lived, and the Labour History Mural at the Trades Union Congress National Education Centre. Mixed exhibitions included Hunting/Observer Awards, 1992, and John Moores Liverpool Exhibition, 1995–6. Had a first solo show at Air Gallery, 1980, one at Robert Sandelson in 1999 indicating Butler’s affinity with Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff and Jack Yeats in his handling of paint. The anonymous dramas of city life were featured. Arts Council, Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston, Rochdale Art Gallery, Museum of London, National Museum of Mineworkers and Edinburgh City Council hold examples.