A very fine gouache by Suffolk artist Mary Ellot Lewis, signed and titled 'Privet Hawk Moth'.
As Mary Elliott Lewis, she was born at Kings Norton, Worcestershire on 26 September 1923. Mary studied at Birmingham College of Art 1939-1944 under Bernard Fleetwood-Walker (1893-1965) and then taught at Mansfield School of Art for seven years after which spent two years at Wolverhampton College of Art. She married at Birmingham in 1951, Henry Howard Lacey (28 June 1927-30 July 1996) and they had a son and two daughters. An artist in gouache, oil, pencil and conte crayon, and a founder member of the Society of Wildlife Artists. She exhibited at Mall and at Tryon Galleries; Slimbridge Wild Fowl Trust, and elsewhere in the U.K., and in Paris also had several solo shows at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Mary illustrated regularly for Hamlyn; Balberry Publishing and the National Parks of America also designing several figures for James Hamilton (born 1948). Medici, Royle and the World Wildlife Fund have reproduced Lacey's pictures and she was commissioned to produce nine works for the Sultan of Oman. She lived near Woodbridge, Suffolk and died at Ipswich on 2 February 2004.
This study of a Privet Hawk Moth boasts exceptional detail and is a superb example of Mary Elliot Lacey's work. This work is housed in its original gilt glazed frame. There is some wear to the frame commensurate with age but the work itself remains in an excellent condition.
The rear of the frame bears labels for The Brotherton Gallery, London, SW7.
Dimensions (framed)
Width: 38cm
Height: 46cm