Clifford Ellis Art
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.
to
17
3
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
21
12
8
2
15
5
1
6
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
10
10
10
10
6
32
9,962
2,753
1,376
1,373
2
21
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
Materials
Carbon Pencil
Clifford Ellis,
Abstract in Grey II
midcentury gouache painting
By Clifford Ellis
Located in London, GB
We acquired a series of paintings, photographs and posters from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More fro...
Category
Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Gouache
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
Materials
Gouache
Variations on Six (Blue on Black) by Clifford Ellis, 1953
By Clifford Ellis
Located in Kingsclere, GB
Variations on Six (Blue on Black) by Clifford Ellis, 1953
Additional information:
Medium: lithograph
85 x 64.5 cm
33 1/2 x 25 3/8 in
Clifford Ellis was born in Bognor Regis, West S...
Category
20th Century Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Lithograph
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 Art
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 Art
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 Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Related Items
#4, 2007
By Joseph Piccillo
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NYC & LA -- Joseph Piccillo's large-scale canvases contrast masculine and feminine qualities, carefully balancing strength and power beside grac...
Category
Early 2000s Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Canvas, Graphite
Fox Animal Watercolor on Paper Handmade Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
427
Artist: Artyom Abrahamyan,
Work: Original Painting, Handmade artwork, One of a Kind
Medium: Watercolor on Paper
Year: 2025
Style: Classic Art
Title: Fox
Size: 12 x 16 inch, (30...
Category
2010s Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
$130
H 12 in W 16 in D 0.1 in
Study of a Butterfly, Watercolour on Silk Applied to Handmade Paper.
By La Roche Laffitte
Located in Cotignac, FR
One from a set of four watercolours of butterflies on silk, applied to handmade paper, with hand cut edges, by French artist La Roche Laffitte. (The other 3 items are available separately)
A beautifully observed and detailed study of a butterfly painted...
Category
Mid-20th Century Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Silk, Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Carbon Pencil, Gouache
$1,010
H 12.21 in W 15.95 in D 0.04 in
Geometric Shapes
By Ben Nicholson
Located in Jerusalem, IL
The idea of Ben Nicholson and his circle was to apply constructivist principles to public and private art. Especially, they were against ornaments and advocated for clean lines. Artworks were created with mathematical precision.
“Geometric shapes...
Category
Mid-20th Century Abstract Geometric Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Gouache, C Print
Set of Four Butterflies. French Watercolours on Silk Laid on Handmade Paper.
By La Roche Laffitte
Located in Cotignac, FR
A set of four watercolours of butterflies on silk, applied to handmade paper, with hand cut edges, by French artist La Roche Laffitte. Two are signed by the artist to the bottom righ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Academic Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Silk, Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Carbon Pencil, Gouache
$3,042 Sale Price
36% Off
H 12.21 in W 15.95 in D 0.04 in
"#56 – BOTH WOUNDED A LITTLE", ink, pencil, gouache, collage, found text, poetry
By Amy Williams
Located in Toronto, Ontario
"#56 – BOTH WOUNDED A LITTLE" is from Amy Williams' series A Farewell to Arms – wherein the artist is working directly onto page 56 of a found copy of Ernest Hemingway's WWII romance...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Paper, Found Objects, Ink, Gouache, Pencil
"#186 – WOUNDED WERE COMING", ink, pencil, gouache, found vintage book, poetry
By Amy Williams
Located in Toronto, Ontario
"#186 – WOUNDED WERE COMING" is from Amy Williams' series A Farewell to Arms – wherein the artist works directly onto pages of a found copy of Ernest Hemingway's WWII romance novel. The artist selects certain words and phrases from page 186 to isolate as a poem, and then draws, inks, redacts and paints the rest of the page according to the text. The resulting poem reads "The wounded were coming / men that were scared / I felt the rain in my face / It was getting dark." – Hemingway's novel is a doomed romance between a wounded American soldier and an Italian nurse – note the feminine form on the page, with a "dress" or apron that looks skeletal, bloody and rained upon, all at once.
From Amy Williams – "My recent work is focused on making treated book pages using a found vintage...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Paper, Found Objects, Ink, Gouache, Pencil
Gilded: abstract expressionist blue
white painting/drawing on paper, framed
By Paula Cahill
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
Free shipping with code ART2021SHIP through December! This is an abstract framed work on paper with blue and white gestural, expressive lines. The work itself measures 10" x 13" and ...
Category
2010s Abstract Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Gouache, Archival Paper
$600
H 17 in W 21 in D 1 in
"#71 – THEN IT
S HOPELESS?", ink, pencil, gouache, found vintage book, poetry
By Amy Williams
Located in Toronto, Ontario
"#71 – THEN IT'S HOPELESS?" is from Amy Williams' series A Farewell to Arms – wherein the artist is working directly onto page 71 of a found copy of Ernest Hemingway's WWII romance novel. The artist selects certain words and phrases from the page to isolate as a poem, and then draws, inks, redacts and paints the rest of the page according to the text of the poem. Here the poem reads: "Then it's hopeless? / But sometimes I cannot hope. / I cannot." Note the poem is outlined in dark red and purple radiating lines, while outside there are lighter violet, blue and white lines.
From Amy Williams – "My recent work is focused on making treated book pages using a found vintage...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Paper, Found Objects, Ink, Gouache, Pencil
Study of a Butterfly, Watercolour on Silk Applied to Handmade Paper.
By La Roche Laffitte
Located in Cotignac, FR
One from a set of four watercolours of butterflies on silk, applied to handmade paper, with hand cut edges, by French artist La Roche Laffitte. Signed bottom right. (The other 3 items are available separately)
A beautifully observed and detailed study of a butterfly painted...
Category
Mid-20th Century Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Silk, Watercolor, Gouache, Handmade Paper, Carbon Pencil
$808 Sale Price
43% Off
H 12.21 in W 15.95 in D 0.2 in
Grizzly Mom
By Adonna Khare
Located in Bozeman, MT
This is a large scale original drawing on paper. Adonna Khare is an America Artist mainly focused on carbon pencil on paper drawings. She received her Masters of Fine Art from Califo...
Category
2010s Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Archival Paper, Carbon Pencil
#5, 2008
By Joseph Piccillo
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NYC & LA -- Joseph Piccillo's large-scale canvases contrast masculine and feminine qualities, carefully balancing strength and power beside grac...
Category
Early 2000s Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Canvas, Graphite
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...
Category
1930s Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Clifford Ellis Lion
s Head Collage Gouache 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...
Category
1960s Modern Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Gouache
Clifford Ellis Sailing Boats in Blue
Red 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
Mid-20th Century Abstract Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Gouache, Pencil
Clifford Ellis Goat Mid-Century sketch 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 Modern Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Gouache
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...
Category
1950s Realist Clifford Ellis Art
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...
Category
1930s Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
H 11.03 in W 7.09 in
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...
Category
1930s Realist Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
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 ...
Category
1940s Modern Clifford Ellis Art
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
H 14.57 in W 22.05 in D 0.04 in
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 Art
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Clifford Ellis art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Clifford Ellis art 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 abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Clifford Ellis art, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Albert Decaris, Robert Somerton, and Anthony Benjamin. Clifford Ellis art 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 $681.