The Etchings of Paul Drury
November 6th to December 14th 2025
Adam’s Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of original etchings by Paul Drury.
Alongside Graham Sutherland and William Larkin, the class of 1921 at Goldsmiths reignited the medium of etching largely due to Larkins discovery of an etching by Samuel Palmer tucked away in a Charing Cross book shop.
Paul Drury only produced 92 works recorded in the Catalogue Raisonnée: but more than half are these portrait heads which have had less prominence than his pastoral Palmeresque work. We are pleased to present a large collection of the portrait heads as well as later pastoral interpretations, some never exhibited before.
The exhibition will also feature contemporary artists who were invited to respond to the ideas and works of Paul Drury.
Paul Drury, an artist and printmaker, was born Alfred Paul Dalou Drury, the son of the sculptor Alfred Drury RA. Influenced by Samuel Palmer's work, his early etchings from 1922 reflect this inspiration. Following his studies, Drury taught at prominent British Art Schools, including the Central School of Art, Heatherley School of Fine Art, and Goldsmiths, his alma mater. In 1944, he was commissioned alongside other notable artists to create a series of prints for Cowan's, a distinguished artist's printmaker.
After World War II, Drury returned to Goldsmiths and became part of the mid 20th century Goldsmiths School. Drury eventually became Principal of Goldsmiths in 1966 for three years.
Drury created 92 etchings, nearly half being portraits and a quarter landscapes. Despite the predominance of portraiture in his oeuvre, his landscapes, such as "September" and "Nicols Farm," are notable.
He frequently exhibited at the Royal Academy in London and, through the British Council, at venues including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the National Gallery of Canada, the National Gallery of New Zealand, and the British Pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair in New York.
His works are part of the collections at the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the National Gallery of Canada, among others.
From 1970 to 1975, Drury served as the President of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers.
See Below for a catalogue of available works by Paul Drury
To purchase one of the Paul Drury works please visit the online shop here
Old Frost. Etching and Dry point 1922-3 Unsigned. First Proof Paper size 21x27cm Image Size 16x23cm £450 Unframed. £550 Framed
Head of a Man in a Fur Hat Etching. 1923/24 Unsigned. Inscribed Paper size 14.5x20.5cm Image size 4.5x6cm £550 Unframed. £650 Framed
Head of an Old Man with Skull Cap Etching. Signed 1924 Frame size 36x42 image size 15x20 £1000 Framed
Evening Wood Engraving. Unsigned 1924 Paper size 19.5 x26.5cm Image size 7.5x10cm £850 Unframed £950 Framed
Head of a Steeplejack Etching. Signed and initialled 1925 Paper size 19.24cm Image size 9x10.5cm £500 Unframed. £600 Framed
Head of a Steeplejack Etching. Signed 1925 Paper size 20x25cm Image size 9x10.5cm £400 Unframed. £500 Framed
Actors Head Etching. Signed and inscribed 1925 Paper size 20x26cm Image size 10x13cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
Head of a Negro Etching. Signed on the plate. Very Rare 1925 Paper size 20x19cm Image size 12.5x10cm £650 Unframed £750 Framed
Evening Etching. Unsigned 1925 Paper size 13x11cm Image size 7.5x9.5cm NFS
Self Portrait Needling a Plate Etching. Signed 1925 Paper size 11.5x18.5cm Image size 6x7.5cm £1000 Unframed £1100 Framed
Head of an Old Man (Cut down) Etching. Signed on the plate 1926 Paper size 14x13.5cm Image size 9.5x9cm £350 Unframed £450 Framed
Head of an Old Man Etching. Initialled and inscribed 1926 Paper size 21x24cm Image size 16x17.5cm £650 Unframed £750 Framed
Man with a Pen Etching. Signed on the plate 1927 Paper size 16x19.5cm Image Size 13x12cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
A Man of Fifty Etching. Signed and inscribed 1928 Paper size 17x23.5cm Image size 13x14.5cm £550 Unframed £650 Framed
A Man of Fifty Etching. Signed and inscribed 1928 Paper size 23x27cm Image size 17.5x20cm £500 Unframed £600
First Italian Head Etching touched with Engraving. Signed and inscribed 1928 Paper size 18.5x22.5cm Image size 13.5x17.5cm £650 Unframed £750 Framed
First Italian Head Etching touched with Engraving. Signed on the plate 1928 Paper size 18.5x24cm Image size 13.5x17cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
Head of a Young Woman Etching and Engraving. Initialled and biting trial. 1930 Paper size 20x25cm Image size 15x20cm £350 Unframed £450 Framed
Head of a Young Woman Etching. Signed and inscribed Paper size 19x25cm Image 20x15cm £300 Unframed £400 Framed
Myrina Etching with Engraving. Signed 1932 Paper size 23x20cm Image size 14.5x17cm £400 Unframed £500 Framed
Old Man Reading Etching. Signed and inscribed to his wife Enid 1932 Paper size 19x15.5cm Image size 13x11cm Sold
On Box Hill Etching. Unsigned 1933 Paper size 23x21cm Image size 18x15cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
Arthur Hind Etching. Reverse signed on the plate 1934 Paper size 23.5x29cm Image size 11x15.5cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
Mrs Horne Etching. Signed on plate. (slightly foxed) 1934 Paper size 22x25cm Image size 18x22cm £350 Unframed £450 Framed
Le Marchand de vin Etching. Signed. Very rare 1934 Paper size 24x27cm Image size 16x18cm £600 Unframed £700 Framed
Girl with Tousled Hair Etching. Signed 1935-6 Paper size 20x25cm Image size 14.5x19 £500 Unframed £600 Framed
Mrs Douglas James Etching. Signed on plate. (slightly foxed) 1936 Paper size 25x28cm Image size 21x22cm £300 Unframed £400 Framed
Ernest Moore, painter Etching. Signed 1936-7 Paper size 32x26cm Image size 27x21cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Blond Looking Down Etching. Signed on plate 1936 Paper size 19x12.5cm Image size 7.5x10cm £300 Unframed £400 Framed
Oliver Drury ( The Artists Brother) Etching with Dry point. Signed 1937 Framed size 32x40cm Image size 16.5x20cm Framed £350
Canal Scene, Bishop's Stortford Etching. Signed 1937 Paper size 24.5x20cm Image size 20x16cm £575 Unframed £675 Framed
Girl Thinking Etching. Unsigned 1937 Paper size 20.5x25.5cm Image size 20x16cm £350 Unframed £450 Framed
Ruins of the Bishop's Palace, St David's Etching. Unsigned 1937-8 Paper size 27.5x23cm Image size 22x18cm £1500 Unframed £1600 Framed
Woman in Black Etching. Signed on the plate 1937 Paper size 20.5 x25cm Image size 20x16cm £550 Unframed £650 Framed
Carel Weight Etching. Signed 1938-9 Paper size 19.5x29cm Image size 17x12cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
French Cemetery Etching. Unsigned later impression 1938-2014 Paper size 42x38cm Image size 29x25cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Woman Sewing ( Artist's wife Enid) Etching. Signed 1940 Paper size 18.5 x23cm Image size 14x10cm £400 Unframed £500 Framed
Girl Engraving on Wood Etching. Signed 1947 Paper size 20.5x24.5cm Image size 15x17cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Miss Adeline Fox Etching. Signed on plate 1949 Paper size 20.5x26cm Image size 15x17.5cm £300 Unframed £400 Framed
Tired Student Etching. Signed and inscribed 1949 Paper size 24x21cm Image size 20x15cm £1500 Unframed £1600 Framed
Mickleham Yews II Etching. Unsigned. Unique impression 1949-50 Paper size 35x29cm Image size 22x17cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Mickleham Yews III Etching. Signed on the plate. Later impression 1950-2014 Paper size 39x28cm Image size 22.5x16cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Forms in a Wood Etching. Unsigned 1950 Paper size 30x36cm Image 22.5x16cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Forms in a Wood Soft-ground Etching with Aquatint 1950-1 Memorial Portfolio Print 1994 Paper size 30x36cm Image 22.5x16cm £600 Unframed £700 Framed
The Family Etching. Signed 1950-1 Paper size 22.5x21cm Image size 17.5x14cm £1000 Unframed £1100 Framed
The Family Etching. Unsigned. (Print Collectors Club Edition) 1951 Paper size 29x32cm Image size 17.5x14cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
Etcher Burnishing a Plate Etching. Signed 1954 or 1955 Paper size 28x24cm Image size 20x16.5cm £700 Unframed £800 Framed
A C Riley drawing in Kew Etching and Aquatint 1956 Paper size 36x32cm Image size 30x26cm £1500 Unframed £1600 Framed
Boy Planning a Horse (The Artist's Son) Etching. Signed and inscribed 1957 Paper size 28.5x22cm Image size 7.5x13cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
The Obstinate Hen Soft-ground Etching and Aquatint. Unsigned 1958 (Later impression) Paper size 44x37cm Image size 38x28cm £450 Unframed £550 Framed
Ancient Stones Soft-ground Etching. Unsigned 1960 Paper size 47x37cm Image size 38x30cm £900 Unframed £1000 Framed
Leaves in a Wood Soft-ground Etching with Aquatint. Unsigned 1961 Paper size 35x29cm Image size 30x25cm £650 Unframed £750 Framed
Stones in a landscape II Soft-ground Etching and Aquatint. Signed and inscribed 1961 Paper size 47x36cm Image size 39x29cm £1000 Unframed £1100 Framed
Ancient Stones in a Landscape III Soft-ground Etching and Aquatint. Signed 1964 Paper size 46x37cm Image size 40x30cm £1200
Fish on a Plate Lift-ground Aquatint. Unsigned 1965 Paper size 39x30cm Image size 17.5x12.5cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Sam Rabin and blonde. Etching. Inscribed 1936 era Paper size 32x24cm Image size 23.5x16cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Box Hill Beeches Etching. Unsigned Paper size 25x20cm Image size 17.5x12.5cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
Squirrel on Box Hill Etching. Unsigned Paper size 19x24.5cm Image size 12.5x17.5cm £500 Unframed £600 Framed
Cork Oaks, Ramatuel Charcoal on Paper. Signed Framed. 56x49cm £2500
View of Reculver Etching. Unsigned Paper size 25x21cm Image size 20x15cm £400 Unframed £500 Framed
Paul Drury Working by Enid Solomon Oil on Canvas 56x42cm. Framed Size NFS
Stone Gates 'near Dinan' and 'Le' Point du Gard Pencil on paper 53x75cm. Framed £2500
Artemis sous Bois Lino cut. Unsigned 1975 'Unique impression' Paper size 24.5x38cm Image size 20x30cm £750 Unframed £850 Framed
Paul Drury PPRE by Anne Desmet RA RE
Please click here to read an introduction to Paul Drury from Anne Desmet RA RE
Please see below to see the artist’s who created works in response to the etchings of Paul Drury
Anne Desmet RA September Digital Collage £250 Unframed £375 Framed
Julian Rowe Golden Apples Acrylic and collage 40cm x 40cm £2500
Diana Croft By the Light of the Moon Reduction Lino cut £185 Framed
Therese Ferrero Expecting Etching £105
Christine Hopkins Forest Cottage attached Mixed media 40 x 40cm £250.
Diana Croft In the Woods Reduction Lino cut £185
Peg Morris Tree Shadows on Radnor Lane Etching £175 Unframed £250 Framed
Donald Smith Etching with Aquatint £150 Framed
Mai Osawa Temptation Etching £170 Framed
Kit Boyd The Migrants Etching and aquatint £360 Framed £250 Framed
Jocelyn Bailey Birds Nest in Ancient Barn Graphite on paper £220 Framed
Jocelyn Bailey Barn Interior: Modern Pastoral Graphite on paper £120 Unframed
Nigel Hills Old Man with Skull Cap (Haunted) Collograph and Pastel £250
Nigel Hills Old Man with Skull Cap (In the Flesh) Collograph and Pastel £250
Sarah Cliff By a Thread Copperplate aquatint, intaglio and relief print 1/5 VE £185
Sue Taylor-Lowen Echo Watercolour, ink and acrylic. £195
Jocelyn Bailey Barn Interior Graphite on paper £120 Unframed
Ruth Barrett Danes The Rosy Dawn Approaches 1/2 Etching with Chine Colle £365 Framed
Marilyn Kyle Concealed Print, Textile, Thread, Microcrystalline Wax £75
Sonia Griffin Shield Mono print 40 x 50 cm £325 Framed
Sonia Griffin Perception Medium - Aqua tint 1/1 Dimensions - 20 x 20 cm £200 Framed
Julie Hoyle Where There is a Heart Mixed media and Collagraph on Japanese paper Edition 1/8 £360 Framed £250 unframed
Adam Green Chance Encounter at Chanctonbury Ring Etching 40x30cm £350 Framed
Amanda Hopkins Growth and Repair Plaster, Yew knot, painted MDF
Bill Hall Chestnut, North Downs Etching and aquatint. £95 Framed
Bill Hall Ivy Etching £75 Framed
Bill Hall Hawthorn Etching £75 Framed
Bill Hall Ancient Sweet Chestnut Stone Lithograph £275 Framed
Sheilagh Noble Avenue of Hornbeams Oil on canvas £495 Framed
Roya Pourdazi Gilham Forms in a Wood Etching £125 Framed