Founded in 1923 as the result of a bequest by Alderman John Chisholm Towner to create ‘an art gallery for the people’, this founding ethos remains at the heart of Towner’s mission. Towner’s collection is best known for its modern British art, including the largest and most significant body of work by Eric Ravilious, and acquisitions made during the period from 1958 to 1964 when the artist William Gear was Curator. The award-winning gallery designed by Rick Mather Architects opened in 2009, and is the largest purpose-built gallery in the South East. In 2019, Lothar Götz transformed the exterior walls of the gallery with his large-scale, colourful geometric artwork, Dance Diagonal.
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Wilfred Avery (1926–2016)
Landscape with Cliffs 1958
Wilfred Avery (1926–2016)
H 86.3 x W 60.9 cm
Towner
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Vanessa Bell (1879–1961)
8 Fitzroy Street
Vanessa Bell (1879–1961)
Oil on canvas
H 65 x W 47 cm
Towner
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Margaret Dora M. Benecke (1876–1962)
Manor Gardens, Autumn
Margaret Dora M. Benecke (1876–1962)
Oil on canvas
H 50.8 x W 50.8 cm
Towner
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David Bomberg (1890–1957)
Kitty, the Artist's Sister 1929
David Bomberg (1890–1957)
Oil on canvas
H 58.5 x W 47.6 cm
Towner
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George Gilbert Bonner (1924–1997)
Rye Harbour, East Sussex 1960
George Gilbert Bonner (1924–1997)
Oil on hardboard
H 44 x W 59.5 cm
Towner
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Derek Boshier (b.1937)
Vista City 1964
Derek Boshier (1937–2024)
Oil on canvas
H 198 x W 303 cm
Towner
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Jeffery Camp (1923–2020)
Beachy Head, White Windswept Prospect 1979
Jeffery Camp (1923–2020)
Oil on canvas
H 102 x W 102 cm
Towner
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William H. Clarkson (1872–1944)
A Downland Park exhibited 1936
William H. Clarkson (1872–1944)
Oil on canvas
H 59.5 x W 90 cm
Towner
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Cecil Collins (1908–1989)
Dawn Invocation 1968
Cecil Collins (1908–1989)
Oil on board
H 105 x W 121 cm
Towner
© Tate / Tate Images. Image credit: Towner
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Robert Colquhoun (1914–1962)
Woman and Goat 1948
Robert Colquhoun (1914–1962)
Oil on canvas
H 29.5 x W 25 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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Alan Davie (1920–2014)
Sea Gate 1960
Alan Davie (1920–2014)
Oil on canvas
H 51 x W 61 cm
Towner
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Robyn Denny (1930–2014)
Apart
Robyn Denny (1930–2014)
Oil on canvas
H 239 x W 188 cm
Towner
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Frederick Etchells (1886–1973)
A Group of Figures
Frederick Etchells (1886–1973)
Oil on board
H 48.2 x W 55.9 cm
Towner
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Merlyn Oliver Evans (1910–1973)
The Orchestra Pit, Covent Garden 1959
Merlyn Oliver Evans (1910–1973)
Oil on canvas
H 101.6 x W 74.9 cm
Towner
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Paul Feiler (1918–2013)
Eastbourne Front from the Pier 1945
Paul Feiler (1918–2013)
Oil on board
H 40 x W 53 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Towner
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Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006)
Drift 1968
Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006)
Painted wood
H 33.5 x W 14.1 cm
Towner
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Elisabeth Frink (1930–1993)
Harbinger Bird III c.1960
Elisabeth Frink (1930–1993)
Bronze
H 44.5 x W 30 x D 17 cm
Towner
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Tirzah Garwood (1908–1951)
Orchid Hunters in Brazil 1950
Tirzah Garwood (1908–1951)
Oil on canvas
H 30.5 x W 40.5 cm
Towner
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Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891–1915)
Sleeping Fawn 1913
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891–1915)
Green patinated bronze
H 10.5 x W 24.5 x D 15 cm
Towner
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William Gear (1915–1997)
Landscape Composition 1951
William Gear (1915–1997)
Oil on canvas
H 55 x W 43 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Towner
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Harry Phelan Gibb (1870–1948)
Three Graces 1911
Harry Phelan Gibb (1870–1948)
Oil on cardboard
H 130 x W 100 cm
Towner
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Laura Sylvia Gosse (1881–1968)
Grande patisserie, Place Nationale, Dieppe, France 1930
Laura Sylvia Gosse (1881–1968)
Oil on canvas
H 42 x W 57.5 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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Duncan Grant (1885–1978)
The Glade, Firle Park, East Sussex 1943
Duncan Grant (1885–1978)
Oil on canvas
H 71.1 x W 50.8 cm
Towner
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Hugh Griffiths (1916–2005)
Flowering Thorn
Hugh Griffiths (1916–2005)
Oil on canvas
H 75 x W 62.5 cm
Towner
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Kenneth Hall (1913–1946)
Cap d'Ail, France
Kenneth Hall (1913–1946)
Oil on canvas
H 61 x W 74.5 cm
Towner
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Stanley William Hayter (1901–1988)
Coast of Erehwon 1959
Stanley William Hayter (1901–1988)
Oil on canvas
H 129.5 x W 132 cm
Towner
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George Henry (1858–1943)
Landscape
George Henry (1858–1943)
Oil on canvas
H 39.5 x W 49.5 cm
Towner
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Dorothy Hepworth (1894–1978)
Girl in Yellow Dress
Patricia Preece (1894–1966) or Dorothy Hepworth (1894–1978)
Oil on canvas
H 74 x W 59 cm
Towner
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Ivon Hitchens (1893–1979)
Evening Sky over Hills 1957
Ivon Hitchens (1893–1979)
Oil on canvas
H 40.6 x W 109.2 cm
Towner
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Frances Hodgkins (1869–1947)
Flatford Mill, Suffolk
Frances Hodgkins (1869–1947)
Oil on canvas
H 58.5 x W 72 cm
Towner
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Eric Hesketh Hubbard (1892–1957)
Rye, East Sussex
Eric Hesketh Hubbard (1892–1957)
Oil on canvas
H 58 x W 55 cm
Towner
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David Jones (1895–1974)
Sea View 1930
David Jones (1895–1974)
Oil on board
H 48 x W 58 cm
Towner
© trustees of the David Jones estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Towner
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Stanislawa de Karlowska (1876–1952)
Barrage Balloons
Stanislawa de Karlowska (1876–1952)
Oil on canvas
H 60 x W 50.5 cm
Towner
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Charles Knight (1901–1990)
Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex 1930s
Charles Knight (1901–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 71 x W 91.5 cm
Towner
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Edward Louis Lawrenson (1868–1940)
The Last Sussex Team c.1925
Edward Louis Lawrenson (1868–1940)
Oil on canvas
H 63.5 x W 76.2 cm
Towner
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Thérèse Lessore (1884–1945)
Walcot Church, Bath, Somerset
Thérèse Lessore (1884–1945)
Oil on canvas
H 76.2 x W 50.8 cm
Towner
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Gomer Lewis (1921–1994)
Forest 1967
Gomer Lewis (1921–1994)
Oil on hardboard
H 117 x W 147.5 cm
Towner
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Christopher Le Brun (b.1951)
Painting, February 1982 1982
Christopher Le Brun (b.1951)
Oil on canvas
H 45 x W 55.5 cm
Towner
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Robert MacBryde (1913–1966)
A Vegetable Still Life
Robert MacBryde (1913–1966)
Oil on canvas
H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm
Towner
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James Bolivar Manson (1879–1945)
Edith Matthews, née Meredith
James Bolivar Manson (1879–1945)
Oil on canvas
H 185.5 x W 89 cm
Towner
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Robert Medley (1905–1994)
Figures in Movement 1962
Robert Medley (1905–1994)
Oil on canvas
H 124.5 x W 122 cm
Towner
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Bernard Meninsky (1891–1950)
Landscape
Bernard Meninsky (1891–1950)
Oil on canvas
H 62.5 x W 75.5 cm
Towner
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John Minton (1917–1957)
Spanish Village c.1950
John Minton (1917–1957)
Oil on hardboard
H 66 x W 43.1 cm
Towner
© Royal College of Art / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Towner
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Harold Mockford (1932–2023)
Eastbourne, East Sussex 1958
Harold Mockford (1932–2023)
Oil on hardboard
H 86.3 x W 116.8 cm
Towner
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Cedric Morris (1889–1982)
Herstmonceux Church, Hailsham, East Sussex 1928
Cedric Lockwood Morris (1889–1982)
Oil on canvas
H 68.5 x W 81.2 cm
Towner
© trustees of the Cedric Lockwood Morris Estate/Foundation / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Towner
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Henry Mundy (1919–2019)
Enclosed 1960
Henry Mundy (1919–2019)
Oil on hardboard
H 150 x W 157.5 cm
Towner
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David Murray (1849–1933)
Music by the Lake exhibited 1911
David Murray (1849–1933)
Oil on canvas
H 76.2 x W 91.4 cm
Towner
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David Nash (b.1945)
Eighteen Thousand Tides 1996
David Nash (b.1945)
Oak
H 500 x W 500 x D 500 cm
Towner
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John Nash (1893–1977)
Disused Canal, Wormingford, Essex
John Northcote Nash (1893–1977)
Oil on canvas
H 58.7 x W 73 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Towner
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William Nicholson (1872–1949)
Judd's Farm 1912
William Nicholson (1872–1949)
Oil on panel
H 33 x W 41 cm
Towner
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John Scorror O'Connor (1913–2004)
Dawn near East Coast
John Scorror O'Connor (1913–2004)
Oil on canvas
H 59.3 x W 74.5 cm
Towner
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Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005)
Nairn Elephant 1972
Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi (1924–2005)
Plastic
H 29.5 x W 38 x D 15 cm
Towner
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Charles Pears (1873–1958)
Beachy Head, East Sussex, Moonlight
Charles Pears (1873–1958)
Oil on canvas
H 33.5 x W 54.5 cm
Towner
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Eric Ravilious (1903–1942)
Beachy Head 1939
Eric Ravilious (1903–1942)
Watercolour & pencil on paper
H 43 x W 57.8 cm
Towner
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William Scott (1913–1989)
Blue on Blue 1967
William Scott (1913–1989)
Oil on canvas
H 61 x W 61 cm
Towner
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Matthew Arnold Bracy Smith (1879–1959)
Seated Female Nude
Matthew Arnold Bracy Smith (1879–1959)
Oil on canvas
H 73.6 x W 60.9 cm
Towner
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Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Spring in Hammersmith
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 52.5 x W 38.5 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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Donald Chisholm Towner (1903–1985)
The Pool of London 1935
Donald Chisholm Towner (1903–1985)
Oil on canvas
H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm
Towner
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William Townsend (1909–1973)
Sundance Canyon
William Townsend (1909–1973)
Oil on canvas
H 76.2 x W 101.6 cm
Towner
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Julian Trevelyan (1910–1988)
Durance Valley, France 1961
Julian Trevelyan (1910–1988)
Oil on canvas
H 75 x W 60.5 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Towner
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William Tucker (b.1935)
Four Four-Part Sculptures 1967
William Tucker (b.1935)
Steel
H 13.5 x W 13.5 x D 3 cm
Towner
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William Turnbull (1922–2012)
Arrowhead Torso 1979
William Turnbull (1922–2012)
Bronze
H 26.6 x W 18.5 x D 8 cm
Towner
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Edward Alexander Wadsworth (1889–1949)
Bronze Ballet 1940
Edward Alexander Wadsworth (1889–1949)
Tempera on canvas mounted on wood
H 62 x W 87.5 cm
Towner
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Alfred Wallis (1855–1942)
Sailing Ship
Alfred Wallis (1855–1942)
Oil on cardboard (back of a calendar)
H 22.5 x W 32 cm
Towner
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Kathleen Walne (1915–2011)
Girl in Caravan 1935
Kathleen Walne (1915–2011)
Watercolour on paper
H 56 x W 38 cm
Towner
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Carel Weight (1908–1997)
The Old Woman in the Garden No. 2 1970
Carel Victor Morlais Weight (1908–1997)
Oil on board
H 120.5 x W 90 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Towner
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Charles Wheeler (1892–1974)
Windswept Snow on a Frozen Pond 1969
Charles Thomas Wheeler (1892–1974)
Oil on board
H 51 x W 61 cm
Towner
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Ethelbert White (1891–1972)
Sussex Landscape
Ethelbert White (1891–1972)
Oil on canvas
H 60.9 x W 76.2 cm
Towner
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Christopher Wood (1901–1930)
Conversation Piece
Christopher Wood (1901–1930)
Oil on canvas
H 95.5 x W 145 cm
Towner
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Bryan Wynter (1915–1975)
Red Spoor 1960
Bryan Wynter (1915–1975)
Oil on canvas
H 183 x W 142 cm
Towner