Bawden, Edward, 1903-1989

Bawden (1903-1989) was a British painter, illustrator and graphic artist. He was also famous for his prints, book covers, posters, and garden metalwork furniture.

He first studied at the Cambridge School of Art from 1919 to 1921. This was followed in 1922 by a scholarship to the Royal College of Art School of Design, where he took a diploma in illustration until 1925. Importantly, here he met fellow student and future collaborator Eric Ravilious, both of whom were taught by the influential artist Paul Nash, who referred to them as "an extraordinary outbreak of talent"

By 1925 Bawden was working one day a week for the Curwen Press (as was Ravilious and their former tutor, Nash), producing illustrations for leading accounts such as London Transport, Westminster Bank, Twinnings, Poole Potteries and Shell-Mex. During the Second World War, Edward Bawden served as one of the official war artists for Britain. He made many evocative watercolour paintings recording the war effort in Iraq. His paintings show the unique life led by the Marsh Arabs in southern Iraq, particularly their majestic dwellings made of reeds.

After the war he became a member of the Great Bardfield Artists: during the 1950s the grouporganised a series of large 'open house' exhibitions which attracted national press attention. Positive reviews and the novelty of viewing art works in the artists own homes, with thousands visiting the remote village during the summer exhibitions of 1954, 1955 and 1958. As well as these shows the Great Bardfield Artists held several touring exhibitions of their work in 1957, 1958 and 1959.

Having briefly taught design and book illustration at Goldsmith's College from 1928 - 1931, Bawden then went on to teach at the Royal College of Art from 1930 - 1963 (excepting War years). In 1968, Bawden became a tutor at the Royal Academy Schools and Senior Lecturer at Leicester College of Art and Design.

Bawden's work can be seen in many major collections and is shown regularly at the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden and the Cecil Higgins Gallery in Bedford.

From the guide to the Edward Bawden Collection, c1920s-1960s, (Archives and Special Collections Centre)

Edward Bawden (1903–1989) was a British painter, illustrator and graphic artist. During the Second World War, Edward Bawden served as one of the official war artists for Britain. He made many evocative watercolor paintings recording the war effort in Iraq. His paintings show the unique life led by the Marsh Arabs in southern Iraq, particularly their majestic dwellings made of reeds. He was also famous for his prints, book covers, posters, and garden metalwork furniture. During an interview, Edward Gorey mentioned that Bawden was one of his favorite artists, lamenting the fact that not many people remembered or knew about this fine artist. Edward Bawden studied in London at the Royal College of Art with fellow student Eric Ravilious, both of whom Paul Nash referred to as "an extraordinary outbreak of talent". By the late 1920s Bawden was working one day a week for the Curwen Press, producing illustrations for leading accounts such as London Transport, Westminster Bank and Twinings. In the early 1930s he was discovered by the famous Stuart Advertising Agency, owned by H. Stuart Menzies and Marcus Brumwell. At this time Bawden produced some of his most humorous and innovative work for Fortnum & Mason and Imperial Airways.

Biographical Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bawden,2007

From the guide to the Edward Bawden Papers, 1963, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc])