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 Sir Terence Orby Conran (4 October 1931 – 12 September 2020) was a British designer, restaurateur, retailer and writer. He founded the Design Museum in Shad Thames, London in 1989. The British designer Thomas Heatherwick said that Conran "m ...

, and for the mobiles he exhibited in the early 1950s with the Constructionist Group.

Early life and education

Little is known of Elston's early life. He attended the

Central School of Arts and Crafts The Central School of Art and Design was a art school, school of fine arts, fine and applied arts in London, England. It offered foundation and degree level courses. It was established in 1896 by the London County Council as the Central School ...

between 1948 and 1951. Victor Pasmore taught there during this period, during which Elston got to know Anthony Hill and

Career and artistic style

In 1951 Elston, "a trained fashion designer", worked with

, 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. He shared lodgings in Sloane Court West with syntactic artist Anthony Hill, after Conran had moved out. In 1964, Elston was designing interiors and furniture for Contract Interiors Ltd at 203 Kings Road, London SW3. Some of his work is illustrated in Conran's books. Elston had been a member of the

Chelsea Arts Club Chelsea Arts Club is a private members' club at 143 Old Church Street in Chelsea, London with a membership of over 4,000, including artists, sculptors, architects, writers, designers, actors, musicians, photographers, and filmmakers. The club wa ...

in London since at least 1993. 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. Elston's artistic style - based on his work with mobiles, stabiles and furniture design - was abstract and modernist.

Artistic output

Elston is largely remembered for his mobiles, reflecting the influence of

Alexander Calder Alexander "Sandy" Calder (; July 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976) was an American sculptor known both for his innovative mobile (sculpture), mobiles (kinetic sculptures powered by motors or air currents) that embrace chance in their aesthetic, hi ...

, 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. Examples of Elston's work can be found in exhibition photographs taken between 1951 and 1953, books published by Conran and other authors, articles in journals and websites

Exhibitions and legacy

Elston exhibited his work with Adrian Hill and other members of the Constructionist Group, between 1951 and 1953; Conran joining him in the ''Third Weekend Exhibition''. Neither Elston nor Conran contributed to subsequent fine-art shows; Conran expressing disappointment at the lack of interest in his own work. * ''Abstract Paintings, Sculptures, Mobiles'', 22 May - 11 June 1951, A.I.A. Gallery * ''Second Weekend Exhibition'', 11–14 July 1952, 22 Fitzroy Street * ''Third Weekend Exhibition'', 1–4 May 1953, 22 Fitzroy Street

Notes

References

Sources

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