William Tillyer Art for Sale: Prints & Originals

Biography

Born in Middlesbrough in 1938, Tillyer began his formal art education at Middlesbrough College of Art before advancing to the Slade School of Art in London. His artistic journey accelerated in the 1970s when he became an influential figure within the Post-War and Contemporary Art movements. Tillyer is noted for his ability to blend traditional and experimental techniques in printmaking.

Throughout his career, Tillyer has redefined classic subjects. His approach merges abstraction with traditional forms. This dynamic nature of his oeuvre reflects his belief that art must evolve alongside its creator, allowing for ongoing dialogue and exploration.

Tillyer's career is characterised by a relentless exploration of the interplay between abstraction and representation. Tillyer's printmaking demonstrates his innovative approach to texture, composition, and materiality, as seen in his 2022 The Scalby Suite. This print series, including the print Honey Jar And Arrangement, combines etching, aquatint, and embossing to create intricate, layered works on paper. By integrating embossed surfaces and fluid, abstracted still lifes, Tillyer achieves a tactile depth that reflects his exploration of the interplay between structure and spontaneity, hallmarks of his broader artistic practice.

Tillyer's work has been celebrated in prestigious exhibitions, including those at the Bernard Jacobson Gallery, where his evolving artistic practice has been showcased over decades.

Tillyer’s work reflects a deep connection to the industrial landscapes of Middlesbrough and the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Moors. Born in Middlesbrough, a town defined by factories, bridges, and power stations, Tillyer juxtaposes these man-made structures with the untamed forces of nature. This duality is evident in his watercolours, where sweeping depictions of weather patterns are contrasted against rigid human constructs such as bridges or architectural elements, encapsulating the tension between Modernity and Romanticism.
Tillyer’s artistic approach embodies a battle between the expressive freedom of Luminism and the disciplined restraint of Constructivism. His works often use grids, lattices, and structured elements to frame and sometimes contain the chaotic energy of nature. For example, in Annexe (Victory Over the Sun, his 2004 installation, Tillyer juxtaposes an explosive splash of red paint with geometric elements, such as a plywood cube and seatbelt straps. This visual dialogue highlights his exploration of how human intervention both shapes and constrains the natural world.
Beyond painting Tillyer’s practice extends into architectural installations and experimental uses of materials. Works such as The Tyranny of the Picture Plane And Other Pressure Tools (2013) showcase his innovative use of foam, grids, and steel to symbolise the compression and control of modern life. Through these multilayered constructions, Tillyer transforms his exploration of materiality into a metaphor for humanity’s complex relationship with nature.

William
Tillyer