The shimmering Greek light intensified her already bold use of colour and developed her interest in colour theory - or as she liked to put it ‘the essence of light.’ Winifred was deeply interested in the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of art, and Greece’s ancient culture and architectural landscape provided a rich source of contemplation. The present work is typical of Winifred’s Greek paintings, with a bunch of wild poppies placed amongst the sun-drenched ruins of classical pillars - exploring ideas of transience versus permanence.



“First we went to Mykonos, an island with tiny white fisher villages where they weave; and then an island called Delos where Apollo was born and is indeed the birthplace of who knows what, and beautiful delicate marble columns and everywhere poppies deep carbuncle carmine luminous and ferocious.” (Winifred Nicholson in a letter to her son Jake, Delphi, Greece, 1 May 1961)