This watercolour painting by Muirhead Bone (1876–1953) depicts the beachfront at Hastings, a picturesque seaside town on the south coast of England. The buildings along the shore are rendered with remarkable precision, and Bone’s use of pastel tones evokes the freshness of the spring season. The scene comes to life with the gentle lapping of the sea against the shore and people leisurely enjoying the beach. Bone’s meticulous attention to architectural detail can be traced back to his early training as an architectural draughtsman apprentice. While Bone is best known for his prints, he was also a highly skilled watercolourist. Created between the wars, this painting reflects a period when Bone travelled extensively and supported the arts in Britain. In 1937, Bone was knighted in the Coronation Honours for his significant contributions to art.

Sir Muirhead Bone HRSA HRSW HON RE HON ARIBA, 1876-1953

The son of a journalist, Bone was born in Glasgow and attended evening classes at Glasgow School of Art while apprenticed to an architect for three years. In 1894 he decided to become a full-time artist, working for a period as a freelance illustrator for the Scots Pictorial. His architectural training left him with a fascination with buildings, which he often depicted under construction and demolition. A consummate draughtsman, he first came to prominence as a printmaker, later becoming an etcher of international renown. However, he is remembered chiefly for his drawings in a range of media. He travelled widely, and was a distinguished was artist during both world wars.