Famous Artists & Their Amazing Paintings! 
Welcome to the wonderful world of art! 
Artists use paint, colours, and imagination to create beautiful pictures. Some artists paint real places, while others paint people, animals, or even abstract ideas!
Let’s meet some famous painters from different times and places!
John Piper (1903-1992, England)
John Piper was an English artist who painted buildings, churches, and landscapes. During World War II, he painted bombed-out buildings to record history. His art was often dark and dramatic!
Famous Work: St Paul’s Cathedral in the Blitz
John Constable (1776-1837, England)
John Constable loved painting the English countryside! His paintings show big skies, rolling fields, and peaceful rivers. He painted real places, including where he grew up in Suffolk.
Famous Work: The Hay Wain
Claude Monet (1840-1926, France)
Monet was a French painter who started Impressionism, a style of painting that used quick, colourful brushstrokes to capture light. He loved painting gardens, water lilies, and sunsets!
Famous Work: Water Lilies
Lucas Beaufort (Born 1981, France)
Lucas Beaufort is a modern artist who creates fun, colourful paintings filled with cartoon-like characters. His work appears on skateboards, clothes, and murals!
Style: Street art with bright, playful designs!
Rembrandt (1606-1669, Netherlands)
Rembrandt was a Dutch artist famous for painting portraits and using light and shadows to create dramatic effects. He also painted Bible stories and scenes from history.
Famous Work: The Night Watch
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792, England)
Reynolds was a famous portrait painter in England. He painted kings, queens, and aristocrats wearing fancy clothes! He was also the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts.
Famous Work: Lady Caroline Howard
Graham Sutherland (1903-1980, England)
Graham Sutherland was a British painter known for painting strange, twisted landscapes and powerful portraits. He painted Winston Churchill, but the painting was destroyed because Churchill didn’t like it!
Famous Work: Welsh Landscape with Roads
Hans Holbein (1497-1543, Germany/England)
Holbein was a German painter who became the official artist for King Henry VIII. His paintings of royalty and nobles look so realistic, almost like photographs!
Famous Work: The Ambassadors
Walter Sickert (1860-1942, England)
Sickert painted mystery-filled scenes of everyday life, including theatres, dark streets, and people indoors. Some say his paintings inspired detectives to solve crimes!
Famous Work: Ennui
Edwin Landseer (1802-1873, England)
Landseer was famous for painting animals, especially dogs, deer, and lions. He even designed the lion statues in Trafalgar Square, London!
Famous Work: The Monarch of the Glen
John Sell Cotman (1782-1842, England)
Cotman painted landscapes and castles with soft, gentle colours. He also created beautiful watercolour paintings of old buildings.
Famous Work: Greta Bridge
Sir William Russell Flint (1880-1969, Scotland)
Flint painted elegant and graceful women, often in flowing dresses. His paintings are known for their soft colours and romantic style.
Famous Work: Gypsy Dance
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919, France)
Renoir was a French Impressionist who painted happy, colourful scenes of people dancing, picnicking, and enjoying life. His paintings look soft and dreamy!
Famous Work: Luncheon of the Boating Party
Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675, Netherlands)
Vermeer painted quiet, peaceful indoor scenes with soft light. His paintings often show people reading, playing music, or working.
Famous Work: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Alfred James Munnings (1878-1959, England)
Munnings was a famous horse painter! He loved painting racehorses, riders, and countryside scenes. He thought that horses were the most beautiful animals to paint.
Famous Work: My Wife, My Horse and Myself
James Ward (1769-1859, England)
Ward painted powerful horses, farm animals, and countryside landscapes. His paintings look realistic and full of energy!
Famous Work: Gordale Scar
Sir John Lavery (1856-1941, Ireland)
Lavery painted portraits of famous people and scenes of everyday life. His paintings have soft colours and a gentle style.
Famous Work: The Artist’s Studio
Richard Wilson (1714-1782, Wales)
Wilson was a landscape painter known for painting beautiful mountains, rivers, and skies. He was one of the first British artists to focus on nature!
Famous Work: Lake Nemi
Philip Wilson Steer (1860-1942, England)
Steer painted seascapes, beaches, and countryside scenes using light and bright colours. His paintings feel soft and peaceful.
Famous Work: The Beach at Walberswick
George Romney (1734-1802, England)
Romney painted portraits of rich and famous people, including beautiful ladies and noblemen. His paintings look elegant and detailed!
Famous Work: Lady Hamilton as Circe
Which Artist Do You Like Best?
Now that you’ve met these amazing painters, which one is your favourite?
Try This!
Draw your own painting inspired by one of these artists! Visit a museum and look at famous paintings! Create a portrait of someone in your family!
Art is everywhere, and you can be an artist too!
