Gallery | Tate Images

James Henry Cecil Collins MBE (1908 – 1989) was an English painter, printmaker and lecturer associated with the Surrealist movement and renowned for his mystical and visionary New-Romanticist paintings.

Originally apprenticed to an engineering firm he won scholarships to Plymouth School of Art (1924-7) and then Royal College of Art in London (1927-31) where he won the William Rothenstein Life Drawing Prize. His first exhibition was at the Bloomsbury Gallery in October 1935, followed by his first poem being published in 'The New English Weekly' in 1936, and being exhibited in the 'International Exhibition of Surrealism' (New Burlington Galleries) in 1936 alongside works by Salvador Dalí, Marcel Duchamp and Pablo Picasso.

Tate owns a beautiful collection of original paintings as well as his personal papers, presented to Tate Archive, along with the copyright in the entirety of his oeuvre, by his widow, Mrs Elisabeth Collins in 1992.

Please contact Tate Images for more information on image usage and artistic copyright clearance.

MA5094 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from behind. Inscribed 'Feb 25 memory pose'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from behind. Inscribed 'Feb 25 memory pose'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5094

MA5097 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from behind with one hand on hip and one arm raised at shoulder height. Inscribed 'Feb 28'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from behind with one hand on hip and one arm raised at shoulder height. Inscribed 'Feb 28'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5097

MA5099 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, lying on his side with right arm over chest. Inscribed 'March 4' and 'memory pose'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, lying on his side with right arm over chest. Inscribed 'March 4' and 'memory pose'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5099

MA5101 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of two heads and two figures with text. Most of the page has been torn away.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of two heads and two figures with text. Most of the page has been torn away.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5101

MA5103 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5103

MA5104 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Colour and calligraphy experimenting

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Colour and calligraphy experimenting

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5104

MA5106 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Calligraphy experimenting

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Calligraphy experimenting

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5106

MA5117 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Self portrait of Cecil Collins. The adjacent page is inscribed 'myself'. Part of the page has been torn away.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Self portrait of Cecil Collins. The adjacent page is inscribed 'myself'. Part of the page has been torn away.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5117

MA5129 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male and female figures

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male and female figures

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5129

MA5131 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of a male nude, viewed from behind, and body parts

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of a male nude, viewed from behind, and body parts

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5131

MA5135 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of figures

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of figures

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5135

MA5136 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of a female nude, and heads

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of a female nude, and heads

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5136

MA5150 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male nudes

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male nudes

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5150

MA5154 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of Greek architecture. The studies are labelled 'Doric', 'Ionic', and 'Corinthian'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of Greek architecture. The studies are labelled 'Doric', 'Ionic', and 'Corinthian'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5154

MA5153 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of Greek architecture. Inscribed 'myu[?] chamber'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of Greek architecture. Inscribed 'myu[?] chamber'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5153

MA5155 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of Greek architecture. Inscribed 'Greek Doric'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of Greek architecture. Inscribed 'Greek Doric'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5155

MA5157 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of Greek architecture

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of Greek architecture

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5157

MA5192 © Tate Images | Lion Drawing Book. Study of a penguin

Lion Drawing Book. Study of a penguin

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5192

MA5201 © Tate Images | Derwent Scrapbook. Abstract portrait painting. There is a piece of the following page stuck on.

Derwent Scrapbook. Abstract portrait painting. There is a piece of the following page stuck on.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5201

MA5207 © Tate Images | Derwent Scrapbook. Abstract painting

Derwent Scrapbook. Abstract painting

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5207

MA4995 © Tate Images | Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Page inscribed 'I have wonder in the woods / and in them have found Inspiration'. The page is also adorned with an undecipherable sketch.

Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Page inscribed 'I have wonder in the woods / and in them have found Inspiration'. The page is also adorned with an undecipherable sketch.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA4995

MA4996 © Tate Images | Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of arms

Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of arms

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA4996

MA4997 © Tate Images | Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of muscular arms

Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of muscular arms

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA4997

MA4999 © Tate Images | Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of arms and a male torso, viewed from behind

Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of arms and a male torso, viewed from behind

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA4999

MA5003 © Tate Images | Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of body parts, possibly various joints

Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of body parts, possibly various joints

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5003

Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Self portrait of Cecil Collins, in profile

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5016

MA5033 © Tate Images | Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of figures, a face and eyes

Plymouth Education Authority Exercise Book used as a sketchbook. Studies of figures, a face and eyes

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5033

MA5036 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Anatomical study of an arm. Inscribed 'Collins A.D.V. F.T.D.'

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Anatomical study of an arm. Inscribed 'Collins A.D.V. F.T.D.'

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5036

MA5037 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Anatomical studies of a neck, upper arm and hand

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Anatomical studies of a neck, upper arm and hand

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5037

MA5038 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Anatomical study of a body, with right arm raised behind head and left arm behind back. Inscribed 'memory pose / memory Anatomy'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Anatomical study of a body, with right arm raised behind head and left arm behind back. Inscribed 'memory pose / memory Anatomy'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5038

MA5040 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of male nudes, [possibly fighting]

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of male nudes, [possibly fighting]

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5040

MA5042 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of nudes, with raised arms

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of nudes, with raised arms

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5042

MA5044 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, with arms raised and flexed

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, with arms raised and flexed

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5044

MA5046 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of figures and a study of a male head

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of figures and a study of a male head

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5046

MA5052 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Possibly architectural studies

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Possibly architectural studies

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5052

MA5053 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of nudes

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of nudes

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5053

MA5058 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude lying down, viewed from behind. Inscribed 'Feb 7' and 'memory pose'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude lying down, viewed from behind. Inscribed 'Feb 7' and 'memory pose'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5058

MA5060 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study, possibly of a male nude

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study, possibly of a male nude

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5060

MA5062 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from behind with arm raised. Inscribed 'Feb 8'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from behind with arm raised. Inscribed 'Feb 8'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5062

MA5068 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude with left leg raised and head resting on fist. Inscribed 'Feb 11' and 'memory pose'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude with left leg raised and head resting on fist. Inscribed 'Feb 11' and 'memory pose'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5068

MA5069 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from behind. Inscribed 'Feb 11' and 'memory pose'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from behind. Inscribed 'Feb 11' and 'memory pose'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5069

MA5070 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male nudes. Inscribed 'Feb 12'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male nudes. Inscribed 'Feb 12'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5070

MA5072 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of nudes

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of nudes

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5072

MA5082 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Composition studies for 'St Jerome'. Inscribed 'Feb' and 'sketches for a composition St Jerome'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Composition studies for 'St Jerome'. Inscribed 'Feb' and 'sketches for a composition St Jerome'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5082

MA5084 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from the side with arm raised. Inscribed 'Feb 19' and 'memory pose'.

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Study of a male nude, viewed from the side with arm raised. Inscribed 'Feb 19' and 'memory pose'.

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5084

MA5107 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Calligraphy experimenting

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Calligraphy experimenting

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5107

MA5111 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male nudes and a horse, possibly a composition study

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male nudes and a horse, possibly a composition study

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5111

MA5112 © Tate Images | Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male nudes, viewed from the side

Exercise Book, without covers, used as a sketchbook. Studies of male nudes, viewed from the side

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5112

MA5176 © Tate Images | Winsor & Newton Charcoal Sketch Book. Composition study of 'Christ at Emm[aeus]'

Winsor & Newton Charcoal Sketch Book. Composition study of 'Christ at Emm[aeus]'

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5176

MA5177 © Tate Images | Winsor & Newton Charcoal Sketch Book. Studies for a female nude

Winsor & Newton Charcoal Sketch Book. Studies for a female nude

Cecil Collins
1908-1989

MA5177