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Antony Groves-Raines (1913 - 1993)

Biography
Born Ralph Gore Antony Groves-Raines, the 8th June 1913 Helen's Bay,Co. Down Northern Ireland, the son of Ralph Gore Devereux Groves-Raines (1877-1953) and Ellen Workman (1877-1953). He had an older brother Julius Augustus Robert Groves-Raines (1909-1981). Antony's paternal grandfather was John Percy Groves, who married Harriet Augusta Raines , the half-sister of General Sir Julies Augustus Robert Raines, and it was a condition of Sir Julius's will that Groves should assume the name Groves-Raines in order to inherit, Sir Julius dying childless. Antony Groves-Raines died 24th February 1993 Richmond, Surrey, and remained a bachelor all his life.

Career
Antony Groves-Raines studied at Cambridge, intending to follow a diplomatic career. He became, instead, a painter, illustrating a number of Guiness booklets and advertisements, as well as several books. His mother Ellen Workman, also an artist, had studied under J. A. McNeill Whistler. “His early work comprised delicate line illustrations...but his style later matured and developed into richly detailed pictures...”,

Style, Technique, and reception
He is particularly associated with ingenious and witty images for the Irish brewers GUINNESS, for children's books such as The Tidy Hen, and posters for London Transport. According to Brian Sibley (The Book of Guinness Advertising 1985) the artist made all his motifs in plasticene incorporating real flowers and props before drawing.

He seems to resurrect the spirit and compositional massing of Dickie Doyle, but with more pictorial flair. If ever there was a neglected artist deserving of a monograph it is Groves-Raines, not for any startling stylistic developments but more sheer visual invention and true decorative ability.

Significant works
Despite being one of the most technically accomplished illustrators of his day, Anthony Groves-Raines is now largely forgotten and his work generally unknown, He illustrated eight of the Guinness Christmas booklets and several series of coloured press advertisements. His other work included illustrated books for children and a set of richly elegant decorations for a collection of carols entitled “On Christmas Day in the Morning”.


 * My Goodness! My Gilbert and Sullivan! (Designed for Guinness by S.H. Benson Ltd. Illustrations by Antony Groves-Raines. Verses by Stanley Penn.) [Parodies of Lyrics by Sir William S. Gilbert.].
 * On Christmas Day in the Morning: Carols gathered by John Langstaff, illustrated by Antony Groves-Raines, piano settings by Marshall Wood- bridge. 1st ed. Harcourt, Brace. © John Langstaff 4 Antony Groves- Raines; 23Sep59; ...
 * Prodigies and Prodigals: Brought to Book by Guinness /cillus. by Groves-Raines. John Waddington, 1946 - Advertising - 20 pages
 * The tidy Hen: By Antony Groves-Raines. Illustrated with one- and four-color watercolor paintings by Antony Groves-Raines. Published by Har- court, Brace & World, New York, 1961. 32 pages; 5x6'/8
 * Alice Aforethought''t: Guinness Carrolls for 1938 Guinness (Firm) Guinness, 1938 - Advertising - 20 pages. One of the Alice-themed promotional books produced between 1933 and 1959 sent to doctors to encourage them to promote the benefits of drinking Guinness.
 * The tidy Hen: By Antony Groves-Raines. Illustrated with one- and four-color watercolor paintings by Antony Groves-Raines. Published by Har- court, Brace & World, New York, 1961. 32 pages; 5x6'/8
 * Alice Aforethought''t: Guinness Carrolls for 1938 Guinness (Firm) Guinness, 1938 - Advertising - 20 pages. One of the Alice-themed promotional books produced between 1933 and 1959 sent to doctors to encourage them to promote the benefits of drinking Guinness.
 * Alice Aforethought''t: Guinness Carrolls for 1938 Guinness (Firm) Guinness, 1938 - Advertising - 20 pages. One of the Alice-themed promotional books produced between 1933 and 1959 sent to doctors to encourage them to promote the benefits of drinking Guinness.
 * Alice Aforethought''t: Guinness Carrolls for 1938 Guinness (Firm) Guinness, 1938 - Advertising - 20 pages. One of the Alice-themed promotional books produced between 1933 and 1959 sent to doctors to encourage them to promote the benefits of drinking Guinness.