# Raymond Elston > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raymond_Elston > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raymond_Elston.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Elston > Source revision: 1284514032 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British designer and artist}} '''Raymond Elston''' was a British textile designer, furniture designer and abstract artist. He was influenced by abstract expressionism and modernist principles and is remembered for his early work with the fashion and furniture designer [Terence Conran](/source/Terence_Conran), and for the mobiles he exhibited in the early 1950s with the [Constructionist Group](/source/Constructionist_Group). == Early life and education == Little is known of Elston's early life. He attended the [Central School of Arts and Crafts](/source/Central_School_of_Art_and_Design) between 1948 and 1951. [Victor Pasmore](/source/Victor_Pasmore) taught there during this period, during which Elston got to know [Anthony Hill](/source/Anthony_Hill_(artist)) {{sfnp|Grieve|1990|page=774}}{{sfnp|Fowler|2006|page=69}} and [Terence Conran](/source/Terence_Conran). {{sfnp|Ind|1995|page=54}} == Career and artistic style == In 1951 Elston, "a trained fashion designer",{{sfnp|Conran|2016|page=28}} worked with [Terence Conran](/source/Terence_Conran), making denim clothes for the Lancashire-based textiles company David Whitehead Ltd, as well as making wood and metal furniture with Conran and Gill Pickles.{{sfnp|Ind|1995|page=64}}{{sfnp|The Life of Terence Conran}} He shared lodgings in Sloane Court West with [syntactic artist](/source/Syntactic_Art) Anthony Hill, after Conran had moved out.{{sfnp|Ind|1995|page=82}} In 1964, Elston was designing interiors and furniture for Contract Interiors Ltd at 203 Kings Road, London SW3. {{sfnp|Young|Young|1964|page=170}}{{sfnp|Inchbald|1965|page=284}} Some of his work is illustrated in Conran's books.{{sfnp|Conran|1974|page=109}}{{sfnp|Conran|1976|page=83}} Elston had been a member of the [Chelsea Arts Club](/source/Chelsea_Arts_Club) in London since at least 1993.{{sfnp|Chelsea Arts Club 1993 Yearbook|1993|page=12}} In 1994 he was interviewed by author Nicholas Ind whose book, entitled ''Terence Conran: The Authorised Biography'', recounts Elston's early experiences with Conran and Anthony Hill.{{sfnp|Ind|1995}} Elston's artistic style - based on his work with [mobiles](/source/Mobile_(sculpture)), [stabiles](/source/Stabile_(sculpture)) and furniture design - was abstract and modernist. == Artistic output == Elston is largely remembered for his mobiles, reflecting the influence of [Alexander Calder](/source/Alexander_Calder),{{sfnp|Jobse|2005|page=251}} however the main body of his work throughout his life involved designing and manufacturing textiles together with furniture design and decoration - initially in collaboration with his friend Terence Conran.{{sfnp|Ind|1995|page=79}} Examples of Elston's work can be found in exhibition photographs taken between 1951 and 1953,{{sfnp|Grieve|1990|page=779}} books published by Conran{{sfnp|Conran|1974|page=109}}{{sfnp|Conran|1976|page=83}} and other authors,{{sfnp|Inchbald|1965|page=184}} articles in journals{{sfnp|The Modern House|2024}} and websites{{cite web |last1=Elston |first1=Raymond |title=auctions in 2017 |url=https://www.lskauctioncentre.co.uk/auction/search/?st=Raymond%20Elston&c=1 |website=Lacy Scott & Knight (auctioneers) |access-date=8 December 2024}}{{efn|Five abstract paintings, signed "Raymond Elston", were auctioned in England in 2017, however their provenance has not yet been established.}} == Exhibitions and legacy == Elston exhibited his work with Adrian Hill and other members of the [Constructionist Group](/source/Constructionist_Group), between 1951 and 1953; Conran joining him in the ''Third Weekend Exhibition''.{{sfnp|Jobse|2005|page=251}}{{sfnp|Grieve|2005|page=12}} Neither Elston nor Conran contributed to subsequent fine-art shows; Conran expressing disappointment at the lack of interest in his own work.{{sfnp|Ind|1995|page=77}} * ''Abstract Paintings, Sculptures, Mobiles'', 22 May - 11 June 1951, [A.I.A.](/source/Artists'_International_Association) Gallery {{sfnp|Grieve|2005|page=15}}{{sfnp|Morris|Radford|1983|page=85}} * ''Second Weekend Exhibition'', 11–14 July 1952, 22 Fitzroy Street {{sfnp|Grieve|1990|page=779}}{{sfnp|Grieve|2005|pages=18-22}} * ''Third Weekend Exhibition'', 1–4 May 1953, 22 Fitzroy Street {{sfnp|Grieve|1990|page=780}}{{sfnp|Grieve|2005|pages=24-25}} == Notes == {{notelist}} == References == {{reflist}} == Sources == * {{citation | last = Fowler | first = Alan | publisher = Winchester School of Art | title = Constructivist Art in Britain 1913-2005 | year = 2006 | url = https://archive.org/details/constructivist-art-in-britain-1913-2005-alan-fowler-2006}} * {{cite journal |last1=Grieve |first1=Alastair |date=1990 |title=Towards an art of environment: exhibitions and publications by a group of avant-garde abstract artists in London 1951-55 |journal=The Burlington Magazine |volume=132, No. 1052 |issue=November |pages=773–781|url=https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=Towards+an+Art+of+Environment%3A+Exhibitions+and+Publications+by+a+Group+of+Avant-Garde+Abstract+Artists+in+London+1951-55&so=rel}} * {{citation | last = Grieve | first = Alastair | isbn = 978-0-300-10703-6 | publisher = Yale University Press | title = Constructed Abstract Art in England After the Second World War: A Neglected Avant-Garde | year = 2005}} * {{cite book |last1=Ind |first1=Nicholas |title=Terence Conran: The Authorised Biography |date=1995 |publisher=Sidgwick & Jackson |isbn=0 283 06201 0 |url=https://archive.org/details/terenceconranaut0000indn}} * {{cite book |last1=Jobse |first1=Jonneke |title=De Stijl Continued: The Journal Structure (1958-1964) An Artists' Debate |date=2005 |publisher=OIO Publishers |location=Rotterdam |isbn=90 6450 577 2}} * {{cite book |last1=Montfort |first1=Anne |title=Reconstitution D'une Abstraction: Geneèse et Définition D'use Forme D'art Constructif à Londres de 1927 à 1961 |date=20 October 2012 |publisher=Université François - Rebelais de Tours |url=http://www.applis.univ-tours.fr/theses/2012/anne.montfort_0000.pdf}} * {{cite book |last1=Conran |first1=Terence |title=My Life in Design |date=2016 |publisher=London Conran Octopus |url=https://archive.org/details/mylifeindesign0000conr/page/28/mode/2up?q=%22Raymond+Elston%22 |access-date=4 December 2024}} * {{cite web |title=The Life of Terence Conran |url=https://christian-watson.com/journal/conran |website=Christian Watson |access-date=29 November 2024 | ref = {{SfnRef|The Life of Terence Conran}} }} * {{cite web |title=Koya co-founder Shuko Oda on the mid-century pieces that fill her 1960s townhouse in Forest Hill, south-east London |url=https://www.themodernhouse.com/journal/shuko-oda-koya-my-modern-house/ |website=The Modern House |access-date=2 December 2024 | ref = {{SfnRef|The Modern House|2024}} }} * {{cite book |last1=Young |first1=Dennis |last2=Young |first2=Barbara |title=Furniture in Britain Today |date=1964 |publisher=George Wittenborn |location=New York |url=https://archive.org/details/furnitureinbrita0000youn/page/n35/mode/2up?q=%22Raymond+Elston%22 |access-date=4 December 2024}} * {{cite book |title=Chelsea Arts Club 1993 Yearbook |date=1993 |publisher=Chelsea Arts Club Ltd |url=https://archive.org/details/chelseaartsclub10000unna/page/n11/mode/2up?q=%22Raymond+Elston%22 |access-date=4 December 2024 | ref = {{SfnRef|Chelsea Arts Club 1993 Yearbook|1993}} }} * {{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Lynda |last2=Radford |first2=Robert |title=The Story of the AIA, Artists International Association, 1933 - 1953 |date=1983 |publisher=The Museum of Modern Art |location=Oxford |url=https://archive.org/details/storyofaiaartist0000morr/page/84/mode/2up?q=%22Raymond+Elston%22}} * {{cite book |last1=Inchbald |first1=Jaqueline |title=Interior Design and Decoration '66 |date=1965 |publisher=Design Yearbook Ltd |url=https://archive.org/details/idd66interiordes0000jedi/page/284/mode/2up?q=%22Raymond+Elston%22 |access-date=4 December 2024}} * {{cite book |last1=Conran |first1=Terence |title=The House Book |date=1974 |publisher=Crown Publishers |isbn=0-517-52627-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/housebook00conr/page/108/mode/2up?q=Elston |access-date=4 December 2024}} * {{cite book |last1=Conran |first1=Terence |title=Le grand livre de la décoration contemporaine |date=1976 |publisher=Elsevier Séquoia |isbn=2-8003-0159-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/housebook0000conr/page/82/mode/2up?q=Raymond+Elston |access-date=4 December 2024}} == See also == * [British Constructivists](/source/British_Constructivists) {{DEFAULTSORT:Elston, Raymond}} Category:20th-century British designers Category:Date of birth missing Category:Date of death missing --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Raymond Elston](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Elston) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Elston?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.