Francis Towne The Colosseum from the Caelian Hills 1799
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery was created in 1949 to house the collection of ceramics, glass and objets d'art assembled by Bedford brewer Cecil Higgins (1856-1941) 'for the benefit, interest and education of the inhabitants of and visitors to Bedford.'
Today Cecil Higgins Art Gallery has not only one of the finest regional public collections of watercolours and prints, but also an internationally recognised design collection. Some of the highlights from the watercolours and drawings collections are exhibited here.
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery is currently closed for major redevelopment, to provide more space in which to exhibit and interpret the works in this important collection. It will reopen in 2011.
This display has been curated by Victoria Partridge, Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art at Cecil Higgins Art Gallery.