Painter and teacher, born in Yorkshire. Studied at Sheffield College of Art, 1965–70, then Royal College of Art, 1971–4. Took part in many mixed shows, including Sheffield Open (National), at Graves Art Gallery, 1973; LG from 1977; Recent Work by Young British Painters, Dallas, Texas, 1979; Maidstone Staff Show, at Maidstone College of Art, 1980; Whitechapel Open, 1982; and in 1983 9 Artists from Wapping British Tour, based at DLI Museum & Arts Centre, Durham. Oliver’s solo shows included Air Gallery, 1977, and Atlantis Gallery, 1982. Arts Council, Victoria & Albert Museum and Sheffield City Art Galleries hold his work. Originally an abstract painter, Oliver later moved towards representation, although his approach remained in many ways abstract, as evidenced in his work at Peter Moores Liverpool Project 6: Art into the 80s, at Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, 1982.