CURWEN GALLERY
As Curwen Press it was founded in 1863 in Plaistow, east London by minister John Curwen when it produced sheet music. His grandson Harold Curwen joined in 1908 and broadened their scope to include limited edition books of high quality. In 1920, Simon Oliver joined and through his contact with the Royal College of Art gave commissions to young artists. These included Paul Nash, Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious. The Press continued during the Second World War by producing propaganda leaflets, themselves now collectors’ items. Due to the appearance of artists' prints, the Curwen Press established the Curwen Studio in 1958. Artists working under this new arm included Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Graham Sutherland, Elisabeth Frink, Alan Davie, Josef Herman and John Piper, all of whom produced many important lithographs. Originally based at the Royal Academy, they later moved to 34 Windmill Street, which was once a base for fan clubs of major bands. In 1982, Curwen began struggling financially and it was put up for sale when Jill and John Hutchings took over the gallery and print studio to save it from closure. The Curwen Gallery merged with the New Academy Gallery in 2004 and has become known as the Curwen & New Academy Gallery. The Curwen Gallery in Windmill Street auctioned off a range of lithographs from its famous studio in March 2024, as well as a range of contemporary art prior to its closure.