Eric Malthouse

Eric Malthouse (1914–1997) was a British artist and printmaker primarily active in South Wales. His work is held in collections such as the Tate, National Museum of Wales, and Government Art Collection. Born in Erdington, Birmingham, he studied at Birmingham College of Arts & Crafts from 1931 to 1937. After teaching positions and service in the Royal Armoured Corps during World War II, Malthouse became a lecturer at Cardiff School of Art (1944–73). He co-founded the South Wales Group (now Welsh Group) in 1949 and the 56 Group Wales in 1956, serving as chair, publicity officer, and treasurer until his resignation in 1970. He was also a founder of the Watercolour Society of Wales (now Royal Watercolour Society of Wales) in 1959 and an associate of the Royal West of England Academy. Malthouse initially worked under the name James Malthouse until 1956, after which he used Eric Malthouse professionally. His early work was figurative, but by 1959, his paintings became entirely non-figurative, focusing on color and spatial composition. Influenced by Ceri Richards and Patrick Heron, he produced series such as pigeon paintings (1952–58) and St. Ives Rock Pools (begun in 1955). He also created murals for University Hall, Cardiff, and the Wales Gas Board. Malthouse was a skilled printmaker, beginning with linocuts during his school days. In 1968, he designed a billboard poster, "Midsummer," for the Welsh Arts Council, which was displayed in Oxford. He illustrated books by Kate Roberts and Emyr Humphreys. After retiring from Cardiff School of Art ...