Henry Moore is one of the most significant British artists of the twentieth century. He was born in Yorkshire, the son of a miner and the seventh of eight children. In 1919 Moore became a student at the Leeds School of Art and went on to attend the Royal College of Art in London.
International success characterised Moore's career; his work is included in major galleries and collections all over the world. In 1977 he established the Henry Moore Foundation to encourage wider enjoyment and opportunities in the arts. He is most well known for his large-scale sculptures but he was also notable throughout his career for his impressive output of graphic art (drawings, watercolours, etchings and lithographs).
Many of the main themes Moore returned to in his graphic works were similar to those of his sculptures, such as the reclining figure and the mother and child pair. But he also explored other forms such as trees, animals, organic forms and hands.
Moore had a drawing studio very close to his house and he would go there most days to work in his sketchbooks and on his prints. It was important to him to be able to produce good work that the average member of the public could buy to put on their living room wall.