Robert Johnson Washington England

Robert Johnson Washington

Robert Johnson Washington (1913-1997), born in Essex, studied painting in Goldsmiths College before going on to the Royal College of Art in London. After three years in the painting school, he transferred over to pottery, working under William Staite Murray, one of the leading studio potters in Britain; he received further training under Dora Billington on the practical aspects of pottery and glazing. Becoming a highly regarded ceramicist, he fought for the recognition of ceramics as fine art throughout his career, whilst also producing paintings, watercolours, and art of other media. His success comes from impressively tall, thrown bottle forms, displaying strong anthropomorphic elements through fluid and linear surface designs.

Many of his works currently reside in the Victoria and Albert museum, and his pieces frequently feature in major British public collections.