Roger Hilton (1911-1975)

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Roger Hilton began his association with the St Ives School in the late 1950s and moved to the area permanently in 1965. His work was deeply influenced by European avant-garde movements such as CoBrA, in tandem with the artistic group he was now associated with. Hilton’s paintings from this period are marked by a raw, expressive quality that captures the essence of his surroundings.

^{▲ Roger Hilton (1911-1975), 'Botallack O'Clock' (£1,000-1,500)}

Far from Cornwall, Hilton was born in Middlesex. His formal art education began in London at the Slade School of Fine Art, where he studied under the renowned painter Henry Tonks. His time at Slade was interrupted by periods of study in Paris, where he was exposed to European avant-garde movements that steered his artwork towards abstraction.

^{▲ Roger Hilton (1911-1975), 'July 1960' (£45,000-60,000)}

During the Second World War, Hilton served in the army and was captured during the Dieppe Raid of 1942, spending three years as a prisoner of war. Understandably, this experience had a significant impact on his life, which can be seen in the raw emotion of his art. After the war, Hilton worked as a schoolteacher before fully committing to his artistic career.

Hilton’s unique style and innovative approach quickly gained recognition. He won the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize in 1963, and represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1964, where he won the UNESCO Prize.

^{▲ Roger Hilton (1911-1975), 'Black Tree' (£2,500-3,500)}

His 1965 move to Cornwall marked a significant shift in his work, as he began to incorporate more figurative elements, particularly simplified nudes, into his abstract compositions. We see this in the pencil drawings on the following pages. Hilton’s later works often featured a brighter range of colours and a more gestural style, reflecting his engagement with abstract expressionism (lots 32, 38 and 40).

^{▲ Roger Hilton (1911-1975), 'Red and Orange' (£2,000-3,000)}

Hilton’s later years were marked by personal struggles, including alcoholism and a debilitating muscular disease. When his health began to decline, he was increasingly bedridden. This did not stifle his creativity but led to a prolific period of artistic production, and he continued to produce compelling and innovative artwork until his death in 1975. No longer able to work on large canvases, Hilton turned to smaller formats and more accessible materials, such as gouache, pastel and poster paints, as seen in many of the works in our collection.

Roger Hilton’s legacy is one of innovation and influence. He pushed the boundaries of traditional painting with his spontaneity, expression, and comical and sometimes absurd imagery.

Tuesday 15 April | 10am

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