On Loan
Mary Adshead
(1904 - 1995)
Portrait of Stephen Bone, the artist’s husband
Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Size:
Height – 48cm
Width – 69cm
Mary Adshead, a prominent British muralist and painter, was commissioned in 1955 to create a mural for the Plymouth
Civic Centre.
The mural for the Plymouth Civic Centre was titled “The History and Traditions of the City of Plymouth.” It aimed to
depict various aspects of Plymouth’s rich history, celebrating its maritime heritage, significant events, and cultural
identity. Adshead was known for her ability to capture local character and historical narrative in her murals, and this
work was no exception.
The mural itself was a large-scale, multi-panel piece. It highlighted key moments in Plymouth’s history, from its role in
seafaring exploration and trade to the city’s wartime experiences. Adshead incorporated images of Plymouth’s famous
figures, such as Sir Francis Drake and the Pilgrim Fathers, who set sail from Plymouth for America in 1620 aboard the
Mayflower.
Mary Adshead studied at the Slade School of Fine Art (1920’24)
under Henry Tonks (1862’1937), who in 1924 selected her for a
mural commission at Highways boys’ club in Shadwell, working
with Rex Whistler (1905’1944).
She became a prominent muralist, creating decorations for
both public and private spaces, including the British Pavilion at
the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. She also illustrated several
books, such as The Little Boy and His House by Stephen Bone
(1904’1958) (whom she married in 1929), and made designs for
London Transport and the Post Office.
As a noteworthy female artist, Adshead exhibited frequently
at the WIAC from the mid ‘1930s, before serving on their
committee in 1951. Working at a time when expectations of
women were still largely confined to issues of domesticity, her
prodigious professional output was noteworthy. Her approach to
mural painting ‘ especially in her choice of subjects and her colourful
palette ‘ challenged the perceived divisions which determined that
public and private spaces should necessarily be treated differently. She
was the subject of a retrospective at Liverpool Art Gallery in 2005.
