Elwin Hawthorne Paintings

Elwin Hawthorne was a British artist, born in 1905 in the East End of London. He was a notable figure in the British art scene, particularly known for being one of the founders of the East London Group of artists. This group was made up of working-class men and women who were mostly self-taught and began as evening classes run by John Cooper at the Bethnal Green Men's Institute.

Hawthorne originally worked as a printer and took up painting in his spare time. He quickly showed a natural aptitude for art and was encouraged by his teacher, John Cooper, and by the established artist Walter Sickert, who was an informal patron of the group. Sickert's influence can be seen in Hawthorne's use of light and shadow and in the often somber mood of his paintings.

The East London Group gained attention in the 1920s and '30s, with Hawthorne being one of its most prominent members. His works frequently depicted urban scenes of the East End and other parts of London, capturing the spirit of the city during that era with a sense of realism and humanity.

Hawthorne exhibited at the Lefevre Gallery and the Whitechapel Art Gallery, among other venues, and his work received critical acclaim. Despite his success, he continued to live and work in the East End throughout his life, remaining deeply connected to the community that had fostered his artistic development.

Elwin Hawthorne's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1954, at the age of 49. His legacy, however, endures through the paintings he left behind, which provide a window into the life of London's East End and the interwar period. They continue to be celebrated for their contribution to British social realist art and for the unique perspective they offer on the time and place in which he lived.