Maurice Ison

Maurice Ison is a British artist and painter with a lifelong passion for art, design and the visual character of the places around him.

Having studied at Moseley School of Art in Birmingham, Maurice went on to establish and run his own gallery, The Mill Gallery, in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. Alongside his work as a gallery owner, he continued to develop his own artistic practice.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Maurice designed and painted railway posters for the Severn Valley Railway, creating distinctive images celebrating the heritage, character and nostalgia of Britain's railways. This experience helped shape his appreciation of illustrative composition, colour and the tradition of British travel poster art.

Now retired from running his gallery, Maurice lives and works in France, where he continues to paint, explore and develop new ideas. Despite living overseas, his connection with the West Midlands remains strong.

His latest collection for Forward Gallery, Birmingham Reimagined, brings together a series of original paintings inspired by the city. Drawing on his experience of railway poster design and his own artistic interpretation, Maurice revisits familiar Birmingham landmarks, architecture and waterways with a nostalgic, decorative style that celebrates the city's distinctive character.