Heath Robinson Collection Saved For The Nation By Generous Grants

Heath Robinson

Over 410 works by the British illustrator William Heath Robinson have been saved for the nation by grants of £300,000. The collection, which includes many of his trademark WW1 and World War Two cartoons, was offered for sale in 2011. This development alleviates fears that the collection was going to be split up. 

The William Heath Robinson Trust (WHRT) will now administer the collection, all made possible by The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) who gave a £250,000 towards the purchase of the artworks An additional grant of £50,000 was provided by the Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for art.

Born in 1872, William Heath Robinson moved to Pinner in 1908. His drawings depict fantasy inventions both surreal and absurd but always humorous.  In 1912 Heath Robinson’s name was Synonymous used as a word for  complicated inventions. Nick Park and designer Thomas Heatherwick have credited Heath Robinson as an inspiration.  

The artist died in September 1944, aged 72.

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