Edward Bawden exhibition
The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum are showing highlights from their Edward Bawden archive in a major new exhibition on until 31 January
During the 1980s the graphic designer donated the contents of his entire studio to the museum, with the result that they are now the proud owners of over 3000 pieces of Bawden-related material. Born in 1903, Bawden studied design at the Royal College of Art under Paul Nash, before taking up printmaking. His career then took off, he designed posters, book covers, murals, ceramics, textiles, lithographs, wallpapers, film advertising, produced lino cuts and watercolours and was even appointed official war artist in 1940.
The exhibition of over 100 highlights from the archive gives a broad overview of these many activities, exploring Bawden’s talent for producing flat, colourful patterns full of charm and lively detail. It also gives a real insight into how Bawden worked as it includes sketches and materials such as lino blocks alongside the finished works. And, as an added bonus, there are also some pieces that have never been previously exhibited. These include designs for ceramics commissioned by the Orient Line Ships in the 1950s as well as original artwork for the Ealing Comedy Hue and Cry.
www.cecilhigginsartgallery.org
