Wednesday 26 August 2009

His 'n' Hers

I am increasingly drawn, if you'll pardon the appalling pun, to the work of Clifford and Rosemary Ellis, (1907-85, 1910-98). I don't think we know who did what on their work; perhaps they were so much of one mind they started in opposite corners, worked until they joined up in the middle and then had a cup of tea. This illustration is one of four posters they did for the London Underground, and is probably my all time favourite. The other three are entitled Wood, River, Heath- this one is Down- and were for promoting the great outdoors to hard-pressed city dwellers in 1933. The Ellis's most prolific output was for nearly 100 gouache dust jackets for the remarkable Collins New Naturalist Series, and so have assured their place not only on nature lovers bookshelves but also in the collections of those who appreciate the stunning artwork. I haven't got one copy, so was relieved to find out recently that there's a set of the first 70 going for £6,000. Which is a bargain, strange though it may seem. Clifford and Rosemary also designed lorry posters for Shell (see one here) and were instrumental in setting up the Bath Academy of Art. What brought all this on? Well, on looking up stuff in the Betjeman edited Collins Guide to English Parish Churches last night, I found they'd done the cover for that too.

10 comments:

accountant said...

Thank you for the introduction to the work of Clifford and Rosemary Ellis.

Bucks Retronaut said...

Another husband and wife team whose work has given me a lot of pleasure has been Rowland and Edith Hilder especially in the Shell Guides.

Peter Ashley said...

Indeed Bucks, and in the Hilder's work on the Shell Nature posters the division of labour was clear. Rowland did the landscaped backgrounds, Edith the still life presentations of flowers, etc. in the foreground.

Philip Wilkinson said...

What a strong image - yet with wonderful delicate colour. Must look dramatic at full poster size. And I like the idea that you;re looking down at the Downs.

Wartime Housewife said...

A propos of nothing at all, have a look at the latest post on this site - thought it might be right up the Unmitigated England followers' collective street.
http://backwatersman.wordpress.com/

martin said...

I have a modest six volumes of the Collins New Naturalist series and,having just done a quick check,every cover has the pencil inscription:C&R E. I think it was the cover art that drew me-rather in the same manner as Brian Cook's cover illustrations for the Batsford Face of Britain series.
Your mention of London Underground illustrators prompts me to put in a word for Norman Wilkinson. He did some superb landscape work for the Overground also.
Apologies for going off on one a bit,but illustrative art does that to me.

martin said...

And I think its time I got my coat..

Vinogirl said...

Love the perspective from which the drawing is execured...somewhere up above the soaring bird.

Anna said...

They did quite a few more than four posters for London Transport, though the LTM collection only lists them under Clifford Ellis without Rosemary:
http://www.ltmcollection.org/posters/artist/artist.html?IXartist=Clifford+Ellis

I like the very bizarre "Travels in Space" one, which was on display in The Art of The Poster earlier this year:
http://www.ltmcollection.org/posters/poster/poster.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=1995/4152&IXsummary=artist/artist&IXartist=Clifford%20Ellis&_IXFIRST_=14&IXenlarge=i0000m1z

Thank you for reminding me of them again.

Peter Ashley said...

Thankyou for the links Anna.