Google doodle celebrates LS Lowry's 125th birthday

English artist Laurence Stephen Lowry, better known as LS Lowry, has been honoured with a Google doodle today marking 125 years since his birth.

The Lancashire-born painter is famous for his depictions of tall, thin figures nicknamed "matchstick men" in industrial landscape settings of Northern England, typically Salford and nearby areas including Pendlebury, where he lived for more than 40 years.

Google highlighted the importance of the artist with a landscape in Lowry's style on its home page.

The search engine often honours major contributors to art, science and industry in this way.

Lowry died of pneumonia in 1976 and next year Tate Britain will hold the first exhibition of his work  in a public institution since his death.

The exhibition will bring around 80 works that aim to re-assess his influence.

Lowry studied at Manchester Academy of Fine Art and Salford Royal Technical College.

His style relied on a muted palette and simplified illustrative form that was sometimes criticised for its naivety.

Appearing to hold the record for the most Royal honours declined, including a knighthood, it is uncertain what Lowry would think of being feted by Google in this way.

His paintings continue to sell for millions of pounds and in 2000 the Lowry gallery in Salford Quays was opened at a cost of £106 million, housing 55 of his paintings and hundreds of drawings.