Roger Hilton (1911 – 1975) was a pioneer of abstract art in post – war Britain. He spent most of his career in London but during the 1950’s and 1960’s Hilton began to spend more time in Cornwall. In 1965 he moved permanently to ‘Botallick,’ near’ St Just in Penwith’ with his wife (Rose Hilton). He became a prominent member of the St Ives School and gained an international reputation.

In later years his work became less abstract often based on the female nude or images of animals. During the 1960’s he suffered ill health and by 1974 he was confined to bed as an invalid. Despite his illness he continued to work from his bed – drawing and painting often through the night. He sadly died at ‘Botallick ‘ in 1975 at the age of 64 after a long illness.

Major retrospectives of Hilton’s work have been held at the Serpentine Gallery (1974), Hayward Gallery (1993) and Tate St Ives (2006) and his work is represented in major collections throughout the world.