Eric Ravilious Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) was a renowned British painter, designer, book illustrator and wood engraver. He is particularly known for his watercolor landscapes depicting the South Downs and other English countryside scenes.

Ravilious was born in London and grew up in East Sussex. He studied at the Eastbourne School of Art and then the Royal College of Art. In the 1930s, he became one of the foremost artists for the Curwen Press and his distinctive illustrations brought him wide acclaim.

From 1931 to 1935, Ravilious lived at 48 Upper Mall in Hammersmith, a charming house beside the River Thames in west London. During this productive period, he established himself as a leading light in the artistic community. His works were exhibited at prestigious galleries and he was commissioned by London Transport to design iconic posters.

Tragically, Ravilious was killed in 1942 at the age of 39 while serving as a war artist in Iceland. He was aboard an aircraft that disappeared off the coast, presumed crashed. Although his life was cut short, Ravilious left an enduring legacy as one of the finest English artists of his generation, celebrated for his unique style and evocative sense of place captured in his works.

The Borough of Hammersmith, where Ravilious once resided, has been home to many artists and writers over the years who were undoubtedly drawn to its pretty riverside setting and vibrant cultural scene. This blue plaque, put up in 1991, ensures that Ravilious’ time spent living and working in Hammersmith is remembered and celebrated.