Patrick Lichfield
(Born 1939 in Staffordshire), Photography
Patrick Anson was the 5th Earl of Lichfield. He became one of the most famous photographers of the 20th century.
Robert Radford Welch
(Born 1929 in Hereford in West Midlands), Silversmith
Welch trained as a silversmith in Birmingham but was influenced by the modernism of Scandinavian designs and created clean and functional designs.
Conroy Maddox
(Born 1912 in Ledbury in Herefordshire), Collage, Fiction, Painting
A collagist, painter and writer. From 1935 on wards he was a part of the Surrealist movement.
Susie Cooper
(Born 1902 in Stoke-On-Trent in Staffordshire), Pottery and ceramics
Known as a prolific ceramic designer famous for her work on pottery which was produced in the Stoke-On-Trent pottery industries. Her work is sought after and valued by pottery collectors.
Clarice Cliff
(Born 1899 in Tunstall in Staffordshire), Pottery and ceramics
Known as a ceramic artist starting her career in the pottery industry at the age of 13. She produced artistic ceramics and was popular with the public and royalty.
Tom Lovatt Williams
(Born 1897 in Ellesmere in Shropshire), Painting, Poetry
Tom Lovatt-Williams was an English poet and writer whose topics were nature and the railways. He wrote a novel The Gentle Years which was read by Richard Harris on the BBCs Book at Bedtime.
John Edward Masefield
(Born 1878 in Ledbury in Herefordshire), Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Theatre
Appointed Poet Laureate by George V in 1930 and remained so until 1967. Masefield wrote plays, novels, poetry, autobiographies and non-fiction.
Edward Elgar
(Born 1857 in Lower Broadheath in Worcestershire), Music
Elgar was an eminent classical composer. One of his works included the Enigma Variations in 1899, which was very popular at the time.
Edward Coley Burne Jones
(Born 1833 in Birmingham in West Midlands), Pottery and ceramics, Jewellery, Painting, Stained glass
Burne-Jones was a major player in the revival of stained glass in Briton, during his time with and as a founder of Morris, Marshal, Faulkner and co.
Benjamin Williams Leader
(Born 1831 in Worcester in West Midlands), Painting
Benjamin Williams Leader, English artist, was known for his landscape paintings.
Mary Ann Evans
(Born 1819 in Nuneaton in Warwickshire), Fiction, Poetry
Perhaps better known by her pseudonym or pen name George Eliot. She was a novelist and poet, along with journalism and translation. She wrote seven novels. They were often historical and political, such as with Middlemarch which includes the status of women.
Philip Clissett
(Born 1817 in Birtsmorton in Worcestershire), Carpentry
Clissett created the West Midlands-style rush-seated ladderback chair. Ernest Gimson was a pupil of Clissett and created variations of the chair.
William Moore
(Born 1790 in Birmingham in West Midlands), Painting
He was a well known portrait painter in his own right and the father of Henry Moore and Albert Joseph Moore. He took up portrait painting in around 1810, when he was about 20 years old. He gained a good reputation and some success in London before moving to York. He worked in oils, pastels and watercolours.
Henry Salt
(Born 1780 in Lichfield in Staffordshire), Illustration
Salt was the secretary and draftsman for George,Viscount Valentia on his journeys. His drawing from their journeys were later used in Valentias Voyages and Travels to India.
Walter Savage Landor
(Born 1775 in Warwick in Warwickshire), Fiction, Poetry
Landon was a writer and poet. Perhaps best known for one work - Imaginary Conversations - which had five volumes - each with conversations between ancient Romans and Greeks.
Josiah Wedgewood
(Born 1730 in Burlslem in Staffordshire), Pottery and ceramics
Josiah Wedgewood started his long career in his family pottery at the age of nine. He set up his own pottery works in Burslem and during his career developed revolutionary materials, notably basalt and jasperware. In 1771 he built a factory called Etruria and in 1782 this was the first factory to install a steam-powered engine.
Matthew Boulton
(Born 1728 in Birmingham in West Midlands), Silversmith
Matthew Boulton was a renowned English silversmith and manufacturer. He co-owned the Soho Manufactory in Birmingham, which produced a range of luxury goods including silverware. Boulton was known for his innovative designs and technical skill, and his work is highly prized by collectors today.
William Shakespeare
(Born 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire), Fiction, Poetry, Theatre
Perhaps one of the most famous writers of all time. Shakespeare is often called the Bard of Avon. We do not know his actual birthday, so have used his baptism date instead.
