Edwin Butler Bayliss

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Edwin Butler Bayliss (1874–1950),[1] was an artist based in the Black Country, famous for his realistic and unsentimental paintings of industrial sites in the area.

Early life and education[edit]

Edwin was born in Wolverhampton, on Merridale Road. the eldest son of Samuel Bayliss (b. 1848) and Emma Bayliss (née Butler, b.1849).[2] He spent his childhood in Finchfield and Tettenhall, Wolverhampton.[2][3] From twelve he attended the Rydal Mount School (now named the Rydal Penrhos School), a boarding school in Colwyn Bay, Wales[3] where he became a prefect.

Return to the Black Country[edit]

At eighteen he returned to his family's large house in Tettenhall, The Woodhouse. He joined his father's manufacturing firm, but at twenty-seven he had left to pursue his artistic ambitions.[2][3] He painted works inspired by scenes from both his father's iron foundry and the steel works of Sir Alfred Hickman, who was a friend of his fathers.[2][3]


Edwin was originally self-taught, sketching in charcoal, pastel and watercolour and painting mainly in oil. He was a prolific painter, and apparently a sculptor too, though no examples of his sculpture are known.[3] A large amount of his work is held by Wolverhampton Art Gallery.


  1. ^ Dimbleby, David; Brown, David Blayney (2005). A Picture of Britain. 
  2. ^ a b c d "Edwin Butler Bayliss". Retrieved 09/10/2009. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "From 'Edwin Butler-Bayliss 1874-1950'". Retrieved 09/10/2009. 

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