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Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

British, 1907-1985

Clifford Ellis was born in Bognor in Sussex and trained at Saint Martin’s School of Art and Regent Street Polytechnic. He was a graphic artist and illustrator who is best known for the posters he produced for London Transport during the 1930s. Ellis generally collaborated on posters with his wife, Rosemary, whom he married in 1931. The General Post Office, Shell and the Empire Marketing Board were also clients for the couple's posters. They signed their posters C&RE, their initials being in alphabetical order, and they are readily recognizable by their ebullient use of color and form. 

Employed during the war as a camoufleur, along with so many other artists, Ellis was also an official war artist, serving with the Grenadier Guards. Rosemary, meanwhile, was an artist for the Recording Britain project. Following the war, they trained art teachers at the Bath Academy of Art. They also designed a series of nearly 100 book jackets for the New Naturalist series, published by Collins between 1945–82, and were always fascinated by animals and natural history.

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Artist: Clifford Ellis
Clifford Ellis Swallow watercolour Modern British Art Wildlife Bird Migration
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Carbon Pencil

'Form' Abstract Mid-Century Gouache Painting Clifford Ellis Modern British Art
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller." C...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Clifford Ellis Swallow watercolour Modern British Art Wildlife Bird Migration
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil, Watercolor

Clifford Ellis William the Pug pencil sketch Mid Century Modern British Art
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis Mid-Century Abstract drawing Modern British Art
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings and drawings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Selle...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Clifford Ellis Collage I Abstract watercolour gouache Mid-Century landscape
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller." C...
Category

Early 20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Clifford Ellis Curlew pencil sketch Mid Century Modern British Art Wildlife
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis Sheep Charcoal Drawing Modern British Art Mid Century Modern
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings and drawings by Clifford Ellis and his wife Rosemary. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it clic...
Category

1950s Modern Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Charcoal

Clifford Ellis Snow Laden Branch Watercolour Modern British Art 1950s
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of works we have listed by Clifford Ellis and his wife Rosemary Ellia. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it ...
Category

1950s Modern Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Pen

Abstract in White Mid-Century Gouache Painting Clifford Ellis Modern British Art
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Clifford Ellis Abstract Painting Mid-Century Modern British Art Grey & Black
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Clifford Ellis Broad Chalk Wiltshire sketch Modern British Art New Naturalists
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings and drawings by Clifford Ellis and his wife Rosemary. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it clic...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis William Pug Dog II pencil sketch Mid Century Modern British Art
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis Cadbury Castle Gouache Mid Century Modern British Art Painting
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis Curlew II pencil sketch Mid Century Modern British Art Wildlife
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis Autumn in Yellow and Brown: mid-century abstract gouache painting
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller." C...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Clifford Ellis Deer pencil sketch Modern British Art Wildlife animal
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis Red Panda Chico pencil sketch Modern British Art Wildlife animal
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - o...
Category

1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis Collage II Abstract watercolour gouache Mid-Century
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller." C...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

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Previously Available Items
Clifford Ellis Sosicles II - theatrical costume design (1934)
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings and posters from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller." Clifford Ellis (1907-1985) Sosicles II (1934) Theatrical costume design...
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1930s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

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Clifford Ellis Lion's Head Collage Gouache Modern British Art
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1960s Modern Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

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Clifford Ellis Sailing Boats in Blue & Red Mid Century Modern British Art
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Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

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Clifford Ellis Goat Mid-Century sketch Modern British Art
By Clifford Ellis
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Mid-20th Century Modern Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

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Clifford Ellis Great Crested Newt pencil sketch Mid Century Modern British Art
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
From a series of paintings and drawings by Clifford Ellis. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from thi...
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1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Clifford Ellis Sosicles I - theatrical costume design (1934)
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings and posters from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller." Clifford Ellis (1907-1985) Sosicles I (1934) Theatrical costume design Pencil and watercolour 32x18cm Provenance: the family of the artist, by descent. Born in Bognor in Sussex and trained at St Martin’s School of Art and Regent Street Polytechnic, Ellis was a graphic artist and illustrator who is best known for the posters he produced for London Transport during the 1930s. He generally collaborated with his wife Rosemary – whom he married in 1931 – on their posters. The General Post Office, Shell, and The Empire Marketing Board were also clients for their posters. They signed their posters C&RE, their initials being in alphabetical order and they are readily recognisable by their ebullient use of colour and form. Employed during the war as a camoufleur, along with so many other artists, Clifford was also an official war artist, serving with the Grenadier Guards. Rosemary, meanwhile, was an artist for the Recording Britain project. Following the war they trained art teachers at Bath Academy of Art. They also designed a series of nearly one hundred book jackets for Collins New Naturalist series, published between 1945 and 1982. Clifford Ellis studied illustration at the Regent Street Polytechnic, an institution that specialised in ’practical trade classes’, from 1924-27. He went on to design book covers (notably for Collins’ ‘New Naturalist’ series) and posters for London Transport, the General Post Office, Shell-Mex, the Empire Marketing Board and J. Lyons & Co., along with his wife, Rosemary Ellis, whom he married in 1931 while he was teaching at the Polytechnic. The couple’s poster designs combine striking colour with bold typography and depict stylised scenes of the countryside, birds and animals. In the 1930s London Transport commissioned over forty posters a year from well-known artists such as Laura Knight, CRW Nevinson...
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1930s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

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Watercolor, Pencil

Clifford Ellis Kneeling Woman - theatrical costume design (1934)
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller." Clifford Ellis (1907-1985) Kneeling Woman (1934) Theatrical costume design...
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1930s Realist Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

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Watercolor, Pencil

Clifford Ellis Teignmouth UK Beach Scene c1947 watercolour Cat 35
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings and posters from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this ...
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1940s Modern Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

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Watercolor, Pencil

Clifford Ellis Teignmouth UK Beach Scene c1947 watercolour
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings and posters from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this ...
Category

1940s Modern Clifford Ellis Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Pencil

Clifford Ellis drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Clifford Ellis drawings and watercolor paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Clifford Ellis in paint, watercolor, pencil and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Clifford Ellis drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 6 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Richard Caldicott, Doïna Vieru, and Patricia A Pearce. Clifford Ellis drawings and watercolor paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $279 and tops out at $2,506, while the average work can sell for $647.

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