Philip Sutton RA
A Colourist’s World
20 May -8 July 2023
The consummate Philip Sutton selling exhibition of paintings from a long lifetime including new work, works on paper, ceramics and historic posters
Philip Sutton’s show can be viewed below and works may still be available to buy. Any enquiries please email us on gallery@sladersyard.co.uk or telephone us on 01308 459511.
In the build-up to his 95th birthday in October, we celebrate the joyous, magical vision of Philip Sutton RA with paintings from the family collection, released now for first time, alongside works on canvas, paper and ceramics selected from a lifetime of painting up to and including his most recent work. With 65 oils on canvas, 25 works on paper and 21 ceramics, this is one of the finest collections of Philip Sutton’s work that could be put together. Enjoy…
For a film of Philip Sutton’s Talk introduced by Maureen Murray, please scroll down.
New catalogue. Please scroll down to see the paintings.
A new 40 page full-colour catalogue with foreword by Anna Powell, Director of Sladers Yard, is available from the gallery at £12 + £2.50 p&p (within UK).
Paintings, oil on canvas
Philip Sutton RA’s paintings can be seen below. The first section are all in oil on canvas. Where frames are painted, the sizes include the frame. Please contact us on 01308 459511 or email gallery@sladersyard.co.uk with any enquiries.
Please note the works on paper and the ceramics are in separate galleries further down this page. Keep scrolling.
1. The Secret Garden 183 x 183cm / 72 x 72” Unframed c.1998 £poa 
2. Pembrokeshire Air framed size 58 x 72” / 147 x 183cm 2000 £poa 
3. The Magic Garden 127 x 193cm / 50 x 76” Unframed 1998 £poa 
4. The Buffoon framed size 53 x 53.5” / 135 x 135.5cm 1991 £40,000 
Falmouth, A Summer Morning 127 x 127cm / 50 x 50” framed size 130 x 130cm 1977 £36,000 
6. Heather’s Finished Painting framed size 54 x 42.25” / 137.5 x 107.5cm 2009 £36,000 
7. When Birds do Sing framed size 42.5 x 54.5” / 109 x 138.5cm 2014 £36,000 
8. Imogen’s Flowers framed size 46.5 x 46.5” / 108 x 108 cm 1992 £32,000 
9. Manorbier Flowers. 127 x 101.5cm / 50 x 40” framed size 128 x 102.5 1995 £32,000 
10. A Little World 120 x 96cm / 47.5 x 38” unframed 2014 £28,000 
11. A Painter’s House framed size 46.5 x 36.5” / 118 x 93cm 2003 £28,000 
12. Flowers on Tiptoe for a Flight 122 x 91.5cm /48 x 36” unframed 2004 £28,000 
13. Heather in the Garden 110 x 110cm / 43 x 43” framed size 111 x 111cm 1999 £28,000 
14. Music for the Birds framed size 46 x 42.5” / 117 x 108cm 2003. SOLD 
15. Music of the Flowers framed size 42.5 x 42.5” / 108 x 108cm 2012 £28,000 
16. Oh for Springtime 91.5 x 122cm / 36 x 48” unframed. 2003. £28,000 
17. Richmond Park framed size 42.5 x 43” / 108.5 x 109 cm. 2010. £28,000 
18. Splendour and Radiance 122 x 91.5cm / 48 x 36” framed size 130 x 97cm 2000 £28,000 
19. Spontaneous Flowers 122 x 91.5cm / 48 x 36”. unframed 2009 £28,000 
20. The Field Sings 91.5 x 122cm / 36 x 48” unframed. 2003 £28,000 
21. The Magic Field 91.5 x 122cm / 36 x 48″ unframed 2002 £28,000 
22. This Pembrokeshire Magic 122 x 91.5cm / 48 x 36” unframed 2005. £28,000 
23. A Fairytale framed size 42.5 x 36.5” / 108 x 93 cm 2008 £25,500 
24. Artist in Manorbier framed size. 41 x 41” / 105 x 105cm 1989 £25,500 
25. Bonita’s Flowers framed size 41 x 41” / 108 x 108cm 1998 £25,500 
26. Flowers from Manorbier Castle framed size 41 x 41” / 105 x 105cm 1999 £25,500 
27. Charles Darwin’s Flowers framed size 36.5 x 36.5” / 93 x 93cm 2012 £23,000 
28. Pembrokeshire Flowers framed size 37.5 x 37.5” / 95 x 95cm 1996 £23,000 
29. A Fair Wind over Crete framed size 31.5 x 36.5” / 80 x 92.5cm 2010. £21,500 
30. Heaven to Earth, from Earth to Heaven framed size 31.5 x 36.5” / 80 x 93cm 2001. £21,500 
31. Storm Clouds framed size 36.5 x 31.5” / 93 x 80cm 2011 £21,500 
32. The Clouds are Blown Away framed size 37 x 31.5′ / 94 x 80cm 2011. £21,500 
33. When Spring Comes framed size 31.5 x 36.5” / 80.5 x 93cm 2006. £21,500 
34. A Heaven Round the Stars framed size 30.5 x 30.5 / 78 x 78 cm 2012. £19,000 
35. Luba from Moscow framed size 30.5 x 30.5” / 77.5 x 77.5cm 1993. £19,000 
36. That Blue Sky is all in a Rush framed size 30.25 x 30.25″ / 77 x 77cm 2007. SOLD 
37. The Landscape Listens! framed size 30 x 30” / 76 x 76cm 2005. SOLD 
38. A Blue Sky of Spring framed size 26.5 x 30.5“ / 67.5 x 77.5cm 2006 £17,000 
39. Daisy’s Trees framed size 26.5 x 26.5” / 67.5 x 67.5 cm 2002 £17,000 
40. Everything must have been an Illusion framed size 26.5 x 26.5” / 67.5 x 67.5cm 2007 £17,000 
41. How the Trees Sing framed size 31.5 x 26.75” / 80 x 68cm. 2008. £17,000 
42. Long Years Ago! framed size 26.5 x 32” / 68 x 80.5cm 2006 £17,000 
43. Sounds and Sweet Airs that give Delight framed size 30.5 x 26.5” / 77 x 67.5cm. 2000. £17,000 
44. A Dream framed size 25.5 x 23.5″ / 65 x 60 cm 2010. £15,500 
45. Starlings in Heaven! framed size 25 x 25” / 63 x 63cm 2005 £15,500 
46. The Autumn Moon We Saw Last Year framed size 26.5 x 25.5” / 67.5 x 67.5cm 2001 £15,500 
47. For Ever and Ever framed size 22.5 x 22.5” / 57.5 x 57cm 2009 £14,500 
48. Gentle Skies framed size 20.5 x 20.5” / 52 x 52 cm 2007 £14,500 
49. All Things Original and Strange! 46 x 46cm / 18 x 18”. framed size 48 x 48cm 2007 £13,000 
50. Hello Artist framed size 16.5 x 18.5” / 42 x 47cm. 2001. £13,000 
51. Morfa Terrace framed size 18.5 x 18.5” / 47.5 x 47.5 cm 2007. £13,000 
52. Oh, Oh, Oh framed size 18 x 22” / 45.5 x 55.5cm 2020 £13,000 
53. The Little House framed size 18.5 x 18.5” / 47.5 x 47.5cm 2007/9. £13,000 
54. Now, Wonder framed size 18 x 16” / 45.5 x 40cm 1980/2012. £12,000 
55. Trevor Silverman 40.5 x 35.5cm / 16 x 14”. unframed. 1995. £12,000 
56. West Wales framed size 14.5 x 20” / 37 x 50cm 2007. £12,000 
57. A Wonderful Tree with Blossom! 30 x 25cm / 12 x 9.75”. unframed. 2007. £8,500 
58. Hello Tree! 25.5 x 25.5cm / 10 x 10” unframed 2007 £8,500 
59. Trees and Earth Forever! 25.5 x 25.5cm / 10 x 10” unframed 2007 £8,500 
60. Ah Manorbier! 20 x 20cm / 8 x 8” framed size 29 x 29cm 2009 £7,500 
61. Blackbird 20.5 x 17.5cm / 8 x 7” framed size 21.5 x 19cm 2001 £7,500 
62. Looking for Stars 20 x 20 cm / 8 x 8”. unframed. 1973. £7,500 
63. The Colourist 18 x 18cm / 7 x 7” unframed. 2006. £7,500 
64. Bird 13 x 13 cm / 5 x 5” unframed. 1990. £6,500 
65. My Small Friend 13 x 13cm / 5 x 5” framed (vintage frame) 26.5 x 26.5cm 1990 SOLD
works on paper
All the works on paper are framed. Details of frame sizes are below. Please contact the gallery with any enquiries on 01308 459511 or email gallery@sladersyard.co.uk
66. A Young Woman pen & ink 17 x 11cm./ 6.5 x 4.5” framed size: 34 x 27cm 1996 £1,500 
67. Afternoon in Spring pen & pencil. 28 x 21.5cm / 11 x 8.25”. framed size: 49 x 41.5cm. £2,500 
68. Charging Forward pen & ink 17 x 11cm / 6.5 x 4.5”. framed size: 34 x 27cm. 1996. £1,500 
69. Early Morning watercolour 48 x 38cm / 19 x 15”. framed size: 70 x 59cm 1985 £4,000 
70. Flight in Spring. pen & pencil 20 x 22cm / 8 x 8.5” framed size: 37 x 38.5cm. 2005. £2,250 
71. Flowers on Tiptoe for a Flight 2 pastel on paper 53 x 49.5cm / 21 x 19.5” framed size: 75 x 70 cm c.1987. £4,500 
72. Good Morning pen & ink on paper 16 x 11cm / 6.25 x 4.5” framed size: 33 x 27cm. 1994. £1,500 
73. Harriet charcoal on paper. 75 x 55cm / 29.5 x 21.5”. framed size: 83.5 x 63cm. 1997. £5,500 
74. Harriet, the Jester charcoal 76 x 56cm / 30 x 22”. framed size: 83 x 63 cm. 1997. £5,500 
75. Heather’s Flowers pastel on paper. 60 x 50cm / 24 x 20”. framed size: 83 x 72 cm. 1987. £5,000 
76. My Favourite Cat pen & ink 17 x 11cm / 6.5 x 4.5” framed size: 37 x 27cm. 1996. £1,500 
77. Nr Lydstep watercolour. 30.5 x 28cm / 12 x 11”. framed size: 42 x 57 cm. 1994. £3,000 
78. Oberbillig 1 watercolour. 29.5 x 40cm / 11.5 x 15.5”. framed size: 48.5 x 57.5cm 1982 £3,500 
79. Oberbillig 2. watercolour. 29.5 x 40cm / 11.5 x 15.75” framed size: 48.5x 57.5cm. 1982. SOLD 
80. Self portrait with a Hat watercolour 54.5 x 35.5cm / 21.5 x 14” framed size: 79 x 59 cm. 1996. £4,000 
81. Six Small Drawings pen & pencil 2000-02 each 14 x 10cm / 5.5 x 4” framed size 45 x 62cm £5,500 
82. Study of a Tree. pen & pencil 27 x 19cm / 10.5 x 7.5” framed size: 44 x 34cm c.2008. £2,500 
83. The Jewish Girl. oil on paper. 62 x 53.5cm / 24.5 x 21”. framed size: 90 x 80 cm. 1986 SOLD 
84. Time to Leave. pen & ink. 16.5 x 11cm / 6.5 x 4.25”. framed size: 33.5 x 27cm. 1997. £1,500 
85. Winter, Manorbier. ink & pencil 22 x 18.5cm / 8.5 x 7.25”. framed size: 38 x 34cm 1992. £2,250
Ceramics
From 1977 Philip Sutton RA began painting on ceramics made by Jean-Paul Landreau. The collaboration continued for the next 15 years. “I’ve always liked the idea of drawings that bend.’
1. ‘And-he-dreamed…’ 40 x 14.5cm. 1986. £3,500 
1. ‘And-he-dreamed…’ 40 x 14.5cm. 1986. £3,500 
1. ‘And-he-dreamed…’ 40 x 14.5cm. 1986. £3,500 
2. Angel’s Flight. 30 x 57cm. 1992. £6,000 
2. Angel’s Flight. 30 x 57cm. 1992. £6,000 
3. Bon and Jaz 38 x 52cm. 1991. £6,000 
3. Bon and Jaz 38 x 52cm. 1991. £6,000 
3. Bon and Jaz 38 x 52cm. 1991. £6,000 
4. Clara’s Fish. 13.5 x 41cm. c.1986. £3,500 
4. Clara’s Fish. 13.5 x 41cm. c.1986. £3,500 
5. Exotic Bird. 11.5 x 32cm. 1990. £3,000 
5. Exotic Bird. 11.5 x 32cm. 1990. £3,000 
6. Flowers for You 10.5 x 40cm. 1990. £4,000 
6. Flowers for You 10.5 x 40cm. 1990. £4,000 
6. Flowers for You 10.5 x 40cm. 1990. £4,000 
7. Heather’s Urn. 43 x 70cm. 1991. £6,500 
7. Heather’s Urn. 43 x 70cm. 1991. £6,500 
7. Heather’s Urn. 43 x 70cm. 1991. £6,500 
7. Heather’s Urn. 43 x 70cm. 1991. £6,500 
8. Levi’s Bowl 13 x 44.5cm. c.1986. £3,500 
8. Levi’s Bowl 13 x 44.5cm. c.1986. £3,500 
9. Oh Birds! 32 x 20cm. 1986. £3,500 
9. Oh Birds! 32 x 20cm. 1986. £3,500 
10. Shakespearean Queen 4 x 51cm. c.1986 £4,000 
11. Spring Flowers. 7.5 x 43cm. 1986. £3,500 
11. Spring Flowers. 7.5 x 43cm. 1986. £3,500 
12. Spring has Come 30.5 x 47cm. 1992. £5,500 
12. Spring has Come 30.5 x 47cm. 1992. £5,500 
12. Spring has Come 30.5 x 47cm. 1992. £5,500 
13. The Artist 31.5 x 42cm. c.1991. £5,500 
13. The Artist 31.5 x 42cm. c.1991. £5,500 
13. The Artist 31.5 x 42cm. c.1991. £5,500 
14. The Dreamer. 30 x 26cm. 1986. £5,000 
14. The Dreamer. 30 x 26cm. 1986. £5,000 
14. The Dreamer. 30 x 26cm. 1986. £5,000 
15. The Garden. 30 x 30cm. 1986. £5,000 
15. The Garden. 30 x 30cm. 1986. £5,000 
15. The Garden. 30 x 30cm. 1986. £5,000 
16. The Lady. 6.5 x 51cm. c.1986. £4,000 
16. The Lady. 6.5 x 51cm. c.1986. £4,000 
17. The Uncommon Creature. 9 x 34cm. 1986. £3,000 
17. The Uncommon Creature. 9 x 34cm. 1986. £3,000 
18. The Young Lady. 8.5 x 27.5cm. c.1990. £2,000 
18. The Young Lady. 8.5 x 27.5cm. c.1990. £2,000 
19. Tropical Bird. 15 x 40cm 1991 £3,500 
19. Tropical Bird. 15 x 40cm 1991 £3,500 
20. Wild Horse. 9 x 34.5cm. 1986. SOLD 
20. Wild Horse. 9 x 34.5cm. 1986. SOLD 
21. Winter Trees. 19 x 46cm. c.1989. £4,500 
21. Winter Trees. 19 x 46cm. c.1989. £4,500
Film of Philip Sutton’s Talk at Sladers Yard
Film by Thomas Hughes.
Catalogues from our previous exhibitions
Above: Paintings by Philip Sutton RA
Below: Philip Sutton RA Posters (in a separate online gallery)
Please click on an image for details and prices (from £25)
Born in Poole on 20th October 1928, the youngest of four boys, Philip Sutton left school at 14 and worked for three years in a drawing office, waiting for the lunch break so that he could borrow a drawing board and draw. He did his national service in the RAF during the Berlin airlift, earning a grant which allowed him to study at the Slade from 1948 – 53. His contemporaries included Craigie Aitchison, Euan Uglow and Michael Andrews. Philip Sutton admired their work but was quite unlike any of them. He found his own style, struck by the mixture of playfulness and seriousness he found in a book about Henri Matisse, an artist largely ignored at the time.
His tutor, William Coldstream, recognised him as ‘a gifted, intuitive painter’ and introduced him to the dealers Roland, Browse and Delbanco who sold his first painting to Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten. After his first show in 1956, the gallery continued to exhibit his work in Cork Street for the next twenty-eight years. In 1956 he was also invited to become a member of the London Group.
While he was at the Slade he met Heather Cooke. They were married in June 1953 and departed immediately after he graduated to travel and live in Europe for over a year funded by three scholarships including the Prix de Rome. After painting all the daylight hours for six months in the South of France he joined Stanley William Hayter who ran the famous Atelier 17 printmaking studio where Sutton learned his unusual woodcutting techniques through observation and experiment.
Back in London, he took a part-time job teaching etching and lithography at the Slade. With Heather and their first son, he was rescued from living in one room in Kew by Peter Pears who offered them the use of the appropriately named Joy Cottage in Snape, Suffolk. They lived there for three and a half years and had two more children. Sutton developed his bright exuberant style through painting the Suffolk landscape while Heather made radio documentaries and a film. In 1958 they were able to buy a small house in Battersea where they had their fourth child, Rebekah. Sutton painted nudes almost continuously in this period with pale colours and delicate lines. They had many visitors.
Pop Art and the American Expressionists caused turmoil in the art world in 1963 and Philip and Heather Sutton and the four young children departed to Australia and a year in Fiji. While he was away he became established as one of the British painters who epitomised the exuberant sixties. He returned with a full exhibition of tropical paintings and a film Heather had made about him. Heather took an anthropology degree at London University. In 1969 they bought a house in Falmouth and began to spend part of every year there painting expansive landscapes often including the docklands.
In 1976 Hugh Casson invited Sutton to become an RA and his reputation began to move beyond the art market. This led to commissions including designing a tapestry for Shell, one of two made at West Dean College, a logo for 3i, contributed to the rose logo for the Labour party and wall tiles for a restaurant in a bank in Amsterdam. A BBC Arena documentary was made about him and in 1977 a Retrospective of his work was held at the Royal Academy. He also began to paint on ceramic pots. The owner of the famous Fulham Pottery commissioned him to make pots with Jean-Paul Landreau. Some of which are in the current exhibition.
He designed stamps for the Post Office, a poster for the London Underground and crockery for the Royal Academy restaurant. A poster and the flag for the RA Summer Exhibition led the film director Sam Wanamaker to ask Sutton to design a poster for the launch of the reconstructed Globe Theatre. Sutton became inspired by Agincourt, travelling to northern France to imagine the conflict and painting fantastical pictures reminiscent of Uccello. From 1995-97 the painting of the series was filmed in a television documentary ending with the paintings in the foyer of the Globe.
In 1988 Sutton gave up teaching at the Slade. He and Heather moved to Manorbier in Wales where they lived until 2014 when they moved to Bridport. Very sadly Heather died in 2017. This is his fourth major solo show at Sladers Yard. Philip still paints every day expressing his appreciation of the world around him.
Please contact us on 01308 459511 or email gallery@sladersyard.co.uk with any enquiries about Philip Sutton RA.
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Hello, as a former student of Philip’s at the Slade (1985-86) I do hope that you will record his talk and post it here. I wish I could be there, but I live and paint in Mexico and cannot make the trip. Thank you so much for honoring his work and accomplishments!
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We’ll do our best! Watch this space… Many thanks for your message.
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Just reading the article about Philip Sutton in the June Artist magazine. Have admired his work for a long time, so googled him and was so happy to see he is exhibiting at the time I will be holidaying in Dorset. It will be lovely to see his paintings in the flesh
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Isn’t that a lovely piece in Artist. We will look forward to seeing you before 18 June. The paintings are even more amazing in the flesh.
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Hi, I came across a book of Philip’s work yesterday, on a flying visit to my local library- the work is ecstatic. My son who is studying A level art is thrilled too! We live some distance but will try and come to see the work.
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Thanks so much for your comment. We’ll hope to see you both here while Philip’s work is showing.
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Philip Sutton’s exhibition was wonderful. I loved the glowing colours and the drawing, and the woodcuts and ceramics. It was a joy to look at the world as he sees it. Thankyou, I hope you have another one in the not too distant future.
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Thanks. His paintings lit up the gallery. We will let you know when his work will be here again.
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