ALASTAIR MORTON (BRITISH, 1910-1963)

ALASTAIR MORTON (BRITISH, 1910-1963)
Abstract composition
signed with initials and dated 'AM 46' (lower right); further signed and dated again 'Alastair Morton/46' (verso)
gouache, crayon, pen & ink
47 x 57.1 cm. (18 1/2 x 22 1/2 in.)

Provenance
The artist, from whom acquired by
Cherry Morton, early 1980s, from whom acquired by the present owner

Alastair Morton (1910–1963) was a pioneering abstract painter and a visionary in textile design. Born in Carlisle, England, Morton initially pursued mathematics at Edinburgh University and briefly attended Oxford University. In 1932, he joined the family textile firm, Edinburgh Weavers, founded by his father, James Morton, in 1928.

Under Alastair Morton's leadership as artistic director and later chairman, Edinburgh Weavers became a hub for modernist innovation in Britain. He collaborated with prominent contemporary artists, including Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth, integrating avant-garde art into textile design. Morton's commitment to modernism led him to begin collecting modernist art in 1936, and by the following year, he had launched a series of 'Constructivist Fabrics'.

Morton's dual talents in painting and textile design have left an enduring legacy, with his works featured in numerous esteemed public collections. His innovative approach not only advanced the aesthetic of textiles but also solidified Edinburgh Weavers' reputation as a leader in the fusion of art and fabric.

Edinburgh Weavers, under Morton's guidance, became renowned for its collaborations with freelance designers and artists, producing fabrics that were both functional and artistically significant. The firm's commitment to quality and innovation continues to influence textile design today.

Morton's influence extended beyond his lifetime, with Edinburgh Weavers' fabrics remaining a testament to his visionary leadership. His work exemplifies the successful integration of abstract art into everyday objects, enriching the aesthetic experience of daily life.