Edward Burra: Paintings, Prints and Tate

Black and white photograph of Edward Burra in glasses, painting with a cigarette in his mouth — Edward Burra. Photo: Barbara Ker-Seymer, Tate Archive. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration.

Last updated: 27 October 2026

Edward Burra (1905 to 1976) painted cafés, clubs, sailors and war in bright, layered watercolour. Here you will find our take on his work, his Tate Britain show and the book and prints you can buy.

Our take on Edward Burra

Burra painted scenes of cafés, clubs and cabarets, working in watercolour on a large scale in bright, layered washes, according to Tate. He had rheumatoid arthritis and composed his works on a flat surface.

He travelled to Paris and the South of France in the 1920s and to Boston and Harlem in the early 1930s, and left Spain at the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Works include Three Sailors at the Bar (1930), Dancing Skeletons (1934) and Soldiers at Rye (1941). “Painting of course is a sort of drug,” he said.

Tate Britain’s 2025 show gathered more than 80 paintings. The exhibition book and Tate’s made-to-order prints are the easiest way in.

Edward Burra: the essentials

Lived 1905 to 1976, mostly in East Sussex, according to Tate.
Worked mainly in watercolour, at a large scale.
Painted clubs and bars in Paris, Harlem and Boston, and the Second World War.

Edward Burra exhibitions

Edward Burra, Tate Britain, London, 13 June to 19 October 2025, alongside Ithell Colquhoun.

Where to buy Edward Burra prints and books

From the Tate shop:

Exhibition book (paperback), £32: 26 x 21 cm (10.2 x 8.3 in), from the Tate shop.
Made-to-order prints, from £30: including Three Sailors at the Bar and Dancing Skeletons, in your choice of size and frame, from the Tate shop.

Edward Burra FAQs

What did Edward Burra paint?

Cafés, clubs, cabarets, sailors and scenes of war, mostly in watercolour.

When was the Edward Burra show at Tate Britain?

From 13 June to 19 October 2025.

Can I buy an Edward Burra print?

Yes. The Tate shop sells made-to-order prints of his paintings from £30.

Why did Edward Burra paint flat?

He had rheumatoid arthritis, and Tate says working on a horizontal surface eased it.

Edward Burra