Bawden, Edward, 1903-1989

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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])

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf BAWDEN, EDWARD. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Bawden, Edward, 1903-1989. [Collection of ephemera, mostly commercial art. Newberry Library
referencedIn Macy, George. George Macy papers, 1916-1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Bawden, Edward, 1903-. Edward Bawden : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Letters from others to Anthony Bertram, 1920-1971. Houghton Library
referencedIn Inventory of The Legion Papers: Rare MSS 00149 ., 1927-1935 Cushing Memorial Library,
creatorOf Edward Bawden Papers, 1963 University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections
referencedIn Sir William Rothenstein correspondence and other papers, 1887-1957. Houghton Library
creatorOf Edward Bawden Collection, c1920s-1960s Archives and Special Collections Centre
referencedIn Bawden, Edward, 1903- : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Bawden, Edward, 1903-1989. [Edward Bawden : Australian and New Zealand Art Files]. Libraries Australia
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barrow's Stores corporateBody
correspondedWith Bertram, Anthony, 1897- person
associatedWith British Broadcasting Corporation corporateBody
associatedWith Cassell & Co corporateBody
associatedWith Curwen Press corporateBody
associatedWith Faber & Faber corporateBody
associatedWith Fortnum & Mason corporateBody
associatedWith Macy, George. person
associatedWith Minchin, Humphrey Cotton person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Orient Line corporateBody
associatedWith Peter Walker & Son corporateBody
associatedWith Poole Pottery corporateBody
correspondedWith Rothenstein, William, Sir, 1872-1945 person
associatedWith Royal Bank of Scotland Group corporateBody
associatedWith Transport for London corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
BirminghamEngland
LondonEngland
Subject
Advertising
Art
Art, British
Christmas cards
Illustration
Linoleum
Typography
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1903-03-10

Death 1989-11-21

Britons

English

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