Widening access to a world-class collection of British art
The British Council Collection was founded in 1934 to promote British culture around the world and has been collecting art since the late 1930s. Since being founded, it has strived to buy work from artists early in their careers, so the collection includes early pieces by renowned British artists including Gilbert and George, Damien Hirst and Henry Moore.
Images of many works in the collection are now available to browse and license on Artimage. The licence fees go back to funding the collection, as well as the artists and estates who own the copyright in the artworks.
Andrea Rose, Director, Visual Arts at the British Council said:
“We’re delighted to partner with Artimage in licensing images from a range of modern and contemporary works of art in our collection. It is a wonderful way of sharing our collection with worldwide audiences, providing an online space to view and engage with work by some of the UK’s most significant artists. The income from licensing will help support the ongoing work of our collection. “
Explore the collection
Paintings and drawings by neo-Romantic post-war painter John Craxton:
A range of collages, paintings and drawings, both early and recent, by the renowned British Pop artist Peter Blake:
Paintings by the Welsh Surrealist painter, Ceri Richards:
Artworks by the influential abstract artist, Victor Pasmore:
Paintings and sculpture by William Turnbull:
Browse more images in the British Council Collection
Lead image: Babe Rainbow, 1967, Peter Blake.