He schooled at the former Green School and was an apprentice at a pork butchery soon after. It was also during this time that his tutors encouraged him to pursue college education in the field of art because of the perfect drawing skills that he had demonstrated in meat inspection classes. He was offered the opportunity to attend Lancaster and Morecambe College and worked as a labourer as he studied at the Slade School of art. He has staged numerous exhibitions over the years and his works have been featured on prestigious platforms including the Royal Academy and Kendal’s Abbot Gallery. One of his greatest achievements was in 1975 at the Paris Salon where he won a gold medal. Although Dearden has been painting for many years, his masterpieces are not well known and individuals have not really realised his exemplary painting skills.