John Piper (1903-1992), Artist and writer

John Egerton Christmas Piper

Sitter in 56 portraits
Artist of 1 portrait
Born in Epsom. Piper studied at the Royal College of Art before becoming a member of the Seven and Five Society. From 1934 he developed abstract reliefs and began to collaborate on the magazine Axis with writer and librettist Myfanwy Evans, whom he married in 1937. Piper gained prominence for a representational style. He designed sets for the theatre, working with W.H. Auden and Stephen Spender. He collaborated with John Betjeman on books, made stained glass and topographical pictures, such as the watercolours of Windsor Castle. His publications include Brighton Aquatints (1939), British Romantic Artists (1942) and Buildings and Prospects (1949).