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Why Moving to East Anglia is ideal for Art-Lovers
East Anglia is renowned for its artistic heritage and this is a big attraction for anyone keen to more here. Here Hamiltons Removals, who are one of the leading Ipswich removal companies, put the spotlight on some of the more famous and influential painters and sculptors who in many cases drew inspiration from the countryside around them.
Thomas Gainsborough
Gainsborough (1727-88) is one of the most famous names in English art history. Although he made his living painting portraits, landscapes – and particularly those which depicted the countryside in and around his home town of Sudbury – were his first love.
His famous landscapes include Cornard Wood, near Sudbury, Suffolk; Landscape in Suffolk; and Holywells Park, Ipswich. If you want to know more about him visit the Gainsborough’s House Museum in Sudbury (although it is currently closed for redevelopment and is due to reopen later this year).
John Constable
Another of the big names in England’s artistic pantheon, Constable (1776-1837) was born in East Bergholt, just a few miles up the River Stour from Sudbury. He spent his early years exploring the surrounding countryside close to the Suffolk/Essex border – and which is now affectionately known as ‘Constable Country’.
His major works include The Hay Wain (which includes the Stour and Willy Lott’s Cottage), while his other masterpieces include Flatford Mill, Dedham Vale and Wivenhoe Park (above). As well as visiting the area, you can also see some of his works at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich which is home to the largest single collection of his paintings outside London.
Alfred Munnings
He is best known for his pictures of horses, although he did paint portraits and landscapes too. Born in 1878 in Mendham, near Harleston – close to the Norfolk/Suffolk border – he had links all over the region. He attended Framlingham College, was apprenticed to a Norwich printer and later lived at Castle House at Dedham in Essex.
This final location, in the heart of Constable Country, is home to the Munnings Art Museum which displays many of his works and is due to reopen in April.
Edward Seago
One of the leading landscape artists of the 20th century, Seago travelled widely but his heart was always in Norfolk. He was born in Norfolk in 1910 and had strong Royal connections – he is said to have encouraged the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles to paint, and the Queen has a number of his works. He also created a solid silver sculpture of St George slaying the Dragon which serves as an automobile mascot for any state limousine in which the monarch is travelling.
When he died in 1974, a third of the paintings in his studio were destroyed in line with his wishes. The best place to see his work is at the Portland Gallery in London.
Carl Giles
A cartoonist rather than a painter, Carl Giles is usually referred to by just his surname. His cartoons were a mainstay of the Daily Express and Sunday Express newspapers for almost half a century and they depicted the everyday trials and tribulations of a typical British family. Often the drawing and caption referred to a topical event of the day.
Although originally from London, he moved to Witnesham, near Ipswich, in the 1940s after marrying his cousin Sylvia. Those wanting to know more about him should buy one of the many Giles annuals which came out for almost half a century or check out the statue of ‘Grandma’ in Ipswich town centre. (His personal collection was donated to the British Cartoon Archive in 2005).
Grayson Perry
Born in Chelmsford, Essex, in 1960, this Turner Prize-winning artist is well known for his tapestries, ceramic vases and cross-dressing. He regularly appears on TV hosting arts documentaries.
He celebrated his home county with his unique creation, A House for Essex, at Wrabness. The house is an artwork in its own right and also contains a number of works by Perry, exploring the life of fictional character Julie Cope. (Although it’s open to the public there are currently no slots available). His other works are held in collections in London and worldwide.
Maggi Hambling
Like Gainsborough, Maggi Hambling was born in Sudbury. Her paintings include several intricate land and seascapes with the North Sea one of her favourite subjects. However, it is for her sculptures that she is arguably better known; she was commissioned to create memorials for dramatist Oscar Wilde, composer Benjamin Britten and feminist icon Mary Wollstonecraft.
All three have proved highly controversial (the second piece, entitled Scallop, can be found on the beach at Aldeburgh). Some of her portrait paintings are also on display at The National Portrait Gallery in London.
Moving to East Anglia with Hamiltons Removals
If you are interested in moving to East Anglia, then Hamiltons Removals can help – as one of the leading Ipswich removal companies, our expert knowledge extends to Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and all parts of East Anglia. To get in touch, follow this link and fill in the online form or call us on 01379 855203.
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