Creative Christmas Advent Calendar: Pick from the Permanent Collection

Marketing Manager Holly Bain shares one of her favourite works from the RWA's Permanent Collection.

"Claude Rogers (1907–1979) was a British painter of portraits, scenes and landscapes. He was born in London and studied at the Slade School between 1925 and 1929. He founded the short-lived but highly influential Euston Road School in 1937 with artists like William Coldstream and Victor Pasmore."

"During the Second World War Rogers served in the Royal Engineers until he was injured in 1943. This painting captures a fleeting moment when a casualty was rushed to surgery. Although Rogers championed the Euston Road School's adherence to a sober, figurative tradition, his later work exposes the underlying abstract quality of his compositions. There is something in the rapid strokes and application of thick paint that gives a sense of urgency and speed. When I look at it, I almost feel like the artist has been pushed out of the way as the doctors whirl past, perhaps against a wall in the hospital corridor. The tension of the scene makes me hold my breath every time."

RWA Creative Christmas Calendar

This Christmas, try something new, be inspired or even create a unique gift for someone very special as RWA a host of creative Christmas ideas, tips and activities.From Thursday 1 December, the RWA will post gorgeous artworks from the permanent collection, creative challenges from RWA Drawing School Tutors, exclusive competitions and some festive surprises on the RWA blog, Facebook and Twitter.