Eric Ravilious
Eric Ravilious
Watercolourist, wood engraver, book illustrator, lithographer and mural decorator, Ravilious was one of the best-loved artists of his time. Part of a tradition of English topographical watercolourists, he painted the Sussex Downs, as well as designing graphics for London Transport and Wedgewood and working as an official war artist. Read more
Ravilious was born in Acton in 1903 but grew up in Eastbourne, Sussex, where he studied until he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London. There he was taught by Paul Nash, and met and made friends with Edward Bawden. He was part of a remarkable generation of artistic talent that also included Henry Moore.
In 1930 Ravilious married the artist Tirzah Garwood and befriended Sussex based artist Peggy Angus. It was from her home, Furlongs, near Firle on the Sussex Downs, that Ravilious began to paint his Downland subjects. Influenced by a lightness of technique as well as a deep understanding of design, he applied a dry and measured approach to romantic subjects.
He went on to become one of the best-known artists of the 1930’s, also working for London Transport and Wedgwood. From 1940 he was an official war artist, painting memorable pictures of ships, aircraft and coastal defences, until his tragic death in a flying accident off Iceland in 1942, when he became one of the few official war artists to die on active service.