ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

John Craxton and EQ Nicholson: Wartime Friendship in Dorset

exhibition · 2026-08-08

For the first time, artworks by John Craxton and EQ Nicholson, produced while they resided in a Dorset farmhouse during the London Blitz, are being displayed together. This exhibition highlights their early artistic development, showcasing the bond they shared and the influence of their rural environment and the wartime setting. It includes a variety of oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings, many of which are seldom exhibited. This event is crucial for understanding mid-20th-century British art and the Neo-Romantic movement of the 1940s. A catalog featuring essays by art historians accompanies the exhibition, emphasizing the strength of creativity amid conflict and the lasting impact of friendship.

Key facts

  • Paintings by John Craxton and EQ Nicholson made while in a Dorset farmhouse during the Blitz are exhibited together for the first time.
  • The artists escaped the London Blitz and found inspiration in Dorset.
  • The exhibition highlights their lifelong friendship and creative exchange.
  • The works reflect the rural landscape and wartime atmosphere.
  • The show includes oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings.
  • The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog with essays.
  • The event is significant for mid-20th-century British art.
  • The exhibition provides context for the Neo-Romantic movement.

Entities

Artists

  • John Craxton
  • EQ Nicholson

Locations

  • Dorset
  • London

Sources