John Bratby

John Bratby (1928–1992)
A defining figure in Britain’s post-war Kitchen Sink movement, John Bratby depicted ordinary domestic and working-class life with bold brushwork and vivid realism. As part of the “Beaux Arts Quartet”—with Edward Middleditch, Derrick Greaves, and Jack Smith—he represented Britain at the 1956 Venice Biennale, where his intimate portraits and still lifes made a strong impression. In the 1980s, he turned to Venice for inspiration, producing striking, richly painted views of its canals—works alive with texture, colour, and light.