For more than four decades, Harley Crossley utilised knives to paint in oils, creating an extensive collection of art that featured various subjects such as landscapes, vehicles, ships, and canals. His love for the waterways of England started when he and his wife spent a month cruising the canals on a narrow boat during the 1960s. From then on, he explored the canal system by narrowboat and camper van, bringing his easel and paints with him to capture the boats and sceneries around him. Harley was a well-liked exhibitor at numerous waterways festivals, where he would display his talent by painting on his stand, attracting the interest of many.