Children at Play

A large mid century modernist composition in gouache, by British artist Enos Lovatt (1937-2018).

This expressive gouache painting features a collection of abstract, stylized human figures, arranged vertically against a bold turquoise background. The figures are outlined with heavy black lines, giving them a graphic, almost childlike quality. Each character has a distinct presence but is rendered with simplified forms and exaggerated facial features.

The gouache medium allows for bold, opaque colour application, giving the painting a vibrant, matte finish. Visible brushstrokes and unrefined edges enhance the raw, expressive energy.

Overall, this piece feels dynamic and full of personality, with a playful yet intense aesthetic that invites viewers to interpret the relationships and emotions of the figures.

The painting is presented within a card mount and a ochre wooden frame with silver leaf detailing, and is protected behind perspex. Both painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition.

Enos Lovatt (1937–2018) studied at Burslem School of Art and the Royal College of Art (1959–1962) before becoming Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Staffordshire Polytechnic until 1992. A prolific artist, he worked in oils, gouache, acrylics, ceramics, and biro, leaving behind thousands of works. He exhibited sporadically, including solo shows in City Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, one man shows at the Paton and Woodstock Galleries in London and at Stafford Museum and Art Gallery.

Much of Enos’ work on paper from the 1950s to 1970s uses gouache, often in tandem with other media. Gouache allowed his joy and passion for colour to shine. Enos’ work straddled the worlds of figurative and abstracted art as he dipped into both with equal enthusiasm.

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