RARE paintings from an Essex painter and graphic designer who was responsible for the iconic ‘Keep calm and Carry On’ poster is set to go under the hammer in Colchester.
Paintings from Ernest Wallcousins will be on sale at Reeman Dansie’s bi-annual auction of East Anglian Art and Artists next month.
Daniel Wright, associate director of Reeman Dansie, said: “Ernest is a little bit obscure because he was such a successful graphic artist”.
“A lot of his work such as the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ posters were largely anonymous so in some ways he was the victim of his own success."
Mr Wright said that Ernest had a “tremendous amount of creativity” with “two great strings to his bow” as a commercial artist and as a fantasy artist which “did not have much precedent for that area”.
He said that the two of Ernest’s paintings, on sale May 1, are typical of his more usual fantasy illustration style and inspired the "well known in the 1980s to 1990s" fantasy book cover fantasy style as defined by the "Sword-n-Sandels illustrators".
Ernest is also well known for his 1945 portrait of Sir Winston Churchill and began his career in North America, before settling in Leigh.
Erenest Wallcousins' ‘Fantasy’ is estimated at £1,500 to £2,500, and features in an auction of 350 lots.
Other highlights include a rare snowballing scene by 19th century Ipswich artist Thomas Smythe (1825-1906) estimated at £2,500 to £3,500.
A Suffolk landscape by Hadleigh artist Lucy Harwood (1893-1972) estimated at £2000-3000.
As well as Leonard Squirrell (1893-1979) watercolour of Chelsworth, guided at £1,200 to £1,800.
Mr Wright said: “We have such a wealth of artistic talent in this region and we should really celebrate that cultural heritage that we’ve got, which is probably unrivalled by any UK region.”
“It is such a strong tradition of the east Anglian region and this sale is a must see for any art lover as it is a great cross section of artistic history. “
The auction runs from April 30 to May 2 with pre-sale viewings on April 27 at 9am to 1pm and April 29 at 9am to 6pm.
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