Clifford Ellis is not someone that immediately comes to mind when you think about the St Ives group or even the wider Modern British Art movement of the 1950's but he is someone that we all need to re evaluate.
Over the years Clifford and his wife Rosemary worked together on the book jackets for the famous 'New Naturalist' series but also produced a number of lesser well known , linear abstract prints influenced by their friends William Scott, Henry Cliffe and Howard Hodgkin. They also decorated tiles, made ceramics, produced mosaics and posters for London Transport, Shell BP and the Post Office. They were also responsible for the cartoon which they designed for the entrance hall for The British Pavilion at the Paris International exhibition in 1937.
In 1936, Clifford Ellis took up a position at Bath Tech college and was appointed Head of the Art school two years later. They came to know many artists, including Paul Ashford, Lord Methuen who had himself studied under Walter Sickert and the Ellises also became acquainted with Sickert when he and his wife visited Methuen at Corsham Court in Wiltshire.
During the war the Bath Academy of Art moved to Corsham Court at Lord Methuen's invitation. The Ellises continued to engage with many talented young artists who came to teach at Corsham, a significant number would become key figures in the history of Modern British Art. These included William Scott, Kenneth Armitage, Terry Frost, Peter Lanyon and Howard Hodgkin, to name just a few.
Clfford Ellis was clearly influenced by their work and produced a number of abstract work much of which went unknown and unexhibited , remaining in the family possession until recently released . The work available here is on board and in perfect condition having been safely stored by his daughter. It has undergone a lite clean by a professional conservator , untitled but signed with initials and dated lower left, this work is perfect and ready to hang.
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