Untitled: Vegetable Garden by British artist Tirzah Garwood at the Towner Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Despite favourable reviews of her wood engravings, Garwood created them in the shadow of Ravilious during the 1930s and was enlisted to contribute to Ravilious’s work, including working on murals at Midland Hotel, Morecambe in 1933.

At home she carried out needlework and embroidery and became an accomplished seamstress. This is one of only two surviving pieces of embroidery that Garwood produced.

In this vegetable garden scene she shows off her prowess for depicting figures in movement and draws on pastoral domestic themes that would resurge in her later oil paintings.

From Wikipedia:

Eileen Lucy “Tirzah” Garwood (11 April 1908 – 27 March 1951) was a British wood-engraver, painter, paper marbler, author, and a member of the Great Bardfield Artists.

According to Brighton & Hove Museums, Garwood “is one of the most original and distinctive figures of twentieth century British art.” Her work is known for depicting people, places and animals in domestic scenes “caught in a fleeting moment”. Her style is praised for its touches of humour and eccentricity.

Garwood was married to the artist Eric Ravilious. They collaborated on some projects together, most notably the mural at the Midland Hotel, Morecambe. Garwood’s autobiography was titled ‘Long Live Great Bardfield & Love to You All’.

During her time with the Great Bardfield Artists, Garwood worked with Charlotte Bawden in creating exquisite marbled papers, some of which are now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Object description
Type: Textile
Location: Towner Eastbourne, East Sussex
Material: Wool Embroidery
Artist: Tirzah Garwood (1908–1951)
Date: c.1933

Image Details
Date: 1 July 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/25s
ISO: 320
Licensing: Image of a Towner Eastbourne asset. This image cannot be licensed.