Church in a Copse - John Piper

John Piper (1903–1992) was one of the most famous British twentieth century artists and a founding Trustee of Reading Foundation for Art.

Although principally a painter by the time he made this image, Piper had designed ceramics, furnishing fabrics and tapestries, and made his name with innovative stained-glass windows. He believed that artists could enhance the life of everyone with well-designed building interiors.

Piper collaborated with master craftspeople who translated his drawings or paintings into other media. Here he was asked by fabric screen printer Helen Feiler to design a wallpaper. It was the first time he had done this but he went on to make several more wallpaper designs.

This wallpaper was only sold in the Tate Britain shop during a Piper exhibition there in 1983.