Description‘Rye Marshes, East Sussex’ (1932) oil on canvas; original size 58.8 x 100.3. This is the artwork as first commissioned by Jack Beddington, publicity director for Shell, and an indefatigable supporter of talented artists in the 1930’s. ‘Rye Marshes’ was subsequently used by Shell in their advertising, incorporating the words ‘Everywhere you Go / You can be sure of Shell’ above an below the image. The print has many of the hallmarks of Nash’s genius, in particular a graphic concision which organizes the main elements of the landscape. But the image is made all the more winsome by the use of colour: ochre, blue and orange. This makes the print as striking visually as it is attractive in its subject matter.
