December 1, 2025 – December 23, 2025
Paper Britain – Modern British Works on Paper
Osborne Samuel
In Person Viewing:
23 Dering Street
London W1S 1AW
Online Viewing:
ttps://read.uberflip.com/i/1541633-osborne-samuel-paper-britain/
This exhibition examines the extraordinary creativity that emerged among artists working in Britain in the post-war period, specifically through the medium of paper. Paper’s immediacy and accessibility offered artists freedom of experimentation, rapid mark making, composition and theoretical exploration. Unlike the more deliberate processes associated with painting or sculpture, works on paper often provide a more intimate assessment of the artist’s imagination, revealing traces of decision-making, spontaneity, and thought.
What unfolds across this exhibition is a diverse breadth of technical invention. The chosen range and articulation of media is remarkable, including pen and ink, white ink, gouache, pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, wax resist, oil wash, tempera, watercolour, etching, lithograph and collograph.
All seventeen artists included in this exhibition were highly accomplished in their chosen medium, creating a distinct artistic vocabulary. They often explored new techniques and stretched the boundaries of what could be achieved. Keith Vaughan, for example, added washing up liquid to gouache to create beautiful irregular veil-like textures. Henry Moore pioneered innovative printing techniques and forged a singular visual vocabulary in his drawings. John Craxton, on the other hand, used rapid mark making in pen and ink to capture the essence of his subjects. In his later style he used pastel, tracing the figures with vivid outlines and contrasting colours to energise the form rather than contain it.
Osborne Samuel have specialised in Post-War British art for over four decades.
The artists included are presented in chronological order by their birth date. In many cases, we have other works on paper by the artists included, which can be found on our website or by contacting or visiting the gallery.
