Liam Belton was born in 1947 into a Dublin family that for generations had been in and out of money, power, politics and the arts. His grandfather George Belton was a printer and painter and his father Paul Belton was also a printer and painter who opened an art gallery in Dublin in the 1950’s called the Cavendish Gallery. Liam’s mother Jane Anne Meleady was from the Liberties in Dublin and was the eldest of a family of twelve. She had an artistic and fiery temperament.
Belton attended the National College of Art in the 60’s (1966-72) and became very active in student politics. After students were locked out of NCAD he was instrumental, together with a number of fellow students, in setting up their own college of art in Temple Bar. Having developed a social conscience in NCAD he became involved in left wing politics and set up free art classes in Ballyfermot and Ballymun. He taught art to the visually impaired for 23 years.
Elected to the RHA in 1991 he became an active member and promoted artists welfare and instigated the artists’ benevolent fund. He supervised the installation of the RHA Annual exhibition for over 20 years and introduced the policy of single hanging. He was instrumental, with others in including photography in the Annual Exhibition. Liam set up the Friends of the RHA Academy, the RHA archives, the RHA library and the RHA Gold Medal. He served as Keeper of the Academy for 6 years and Librarian for 7 years. He was appointed to the Board of The National Gallery in 2002 and is now a full time artist.