Sir Henry George Rushbury was a painter and etcher born in Harborne, then on the outskirts of Birmingham. He studied stained glass design and mural decoration at Birmingham School of Art, and soon after worked for two years as assistant to Henry Payne on decorations for the chapel at Madresfield Court, Worcestershire. By 1912, he had settled in London where he began to specialise in architectural subjects. In 1921, he held his first solo exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery in London and the following year became a member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts. In 1927 he became an Associate of the RA and a full member of the Academy in 1936.
Rushbury was an Official War Artist during both World Wars. After acting for a second time as an Official War Artist, he was given the post of Keeper of the Royal Academy and Head of the Royal Academy Schools, and in 1964 he was knighted. A convivial charming man, Rushbury was a staunch supporter of both The Arts Club, Dover Street and the Chelsea Arts Club. He also designed posters for London North Eastern Railways.
Examples of his work are in the British Museum, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, National Motor Museum NRM, Tate Gallery and the V&A. Rushbury demonstrates a mastery of perspective. With the pencil perspective lines often still visible, Rushbury's scenes have a distinctly architectural quality. Paired with his delicate use of colour, his work is endlessly captivating.
