A new book celebrating the lives of two of the UK’s most important 20th century artists.

The story of Ben and Winifred Nicholson’s creative partnership is written in their pictures, and is brought together in our new book, Art and Life: Ben Nicholson and Winifred Nicholson. Their collaboration began even before they were married in Tippacott, Devon, where they drew side by side, and they continued to exchange ideas until the end of their lives. They often painted the same subjects, one as a colourist and the other more interested in form. Ben Nicholson described their time together in the early 1920s: ‘Our experiments were fast and furious and I found it an inspiration working with her’.

A major international exhibition of work from two of the UK’s most important 20th Century painters opened at Leeds Art Gallery on 18 October, running until 12 January 2014 before touring to Kettle’s Yard and Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Below we have put together a little gallery of their work as well as a sample from the book. These were done for nothing less than your enjoyment.

Winifred Nicholson, Indian Sketchbook, 1919-20, watercolour on paper, 23 x 30.5 cm, private collection.

Ben Nicholson, 1920 Tippacott, pencil on paper, 23 x 31 cm, private collection.

Winifred Nicholson, Tippacott, 1920, watercolour on paper, 25 x 35 cm, private collection.

Ben Nicholson, 1928 (Walton Wood Cottage no. 1), oil on canvas, 56 x 61 cm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Winifred Nicholson, Seascape with Two Boats, c. 1932, oil on canvas, 68 x 87 cm, Kettle’s Yard.

Ben Nicholson, 1929 Fireworks, oil on board, 30 x 46 cm, The Piers Arts Centre, Orkney.

Winifred Nicholson, Northrigg Hill, c.1926, oil on canvas, 44 x 84 cm, private collection.

Ben Nicholson, 1928 (Porthmeor Beach no. 2), oil on canvas, 45.8 x 52.7 cm, private collection.

Winifred Nicholson, Feock Creek, 1928, oil on canvas, 61 x 61 cm, Richard Green Gallery, London.

Ben Nicholson, 1928 (Feock), pencil on paper, 22.5 x 30 cm, private collection.

Winifred Nicholson, Cumberland Landscape, c. 1926, oil on canvas, 50.8 x 61, private collection.

Ben Nicholson, 1930 (Christmas Night), oil and graphite on canvas, 63.5 x 94 cm, Kettle’s Yard.

Ben and Winifred Nicholson, c. 1923, private collection.

Ben Nicholson, 1917 (Portrait of Edie), oil on canvas, Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust.

Pages from Ben Nicholson’s scrapbook, early 1920s, private collection.

Winifred Nicholson, Boat on a Stormy Sea, 1928, oil on canvas, 55 x 80 cm, private collection.

Winifred Nicholson, Autumn Flowers on a Mantelpiece, 1932, oil on wood panel, 76 x 60 cm, private collection.

Ben Nicholson, c. 1927 (apples and pears), oil and graphite on canvas, 43.8 x 67.8 cm, Kettle’s Yard.

Designed by Ben Nicholson, made by Mary Bewick, Animal Squares, c. 1925, hooky rug, 106 x 170 cm, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester.

Winifred Nicholson, Anemones, 1924, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 cm, private collection.

Winifred Nicholson with Jake and Kate, Dulwich, 1929, Private Collection

Ben Nicholson, 1925 (still life with jug, mugs, cup and goblet), oil and pencil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm, private collection.

Ben Nicholson, c. 1926-27 (still life), oil on canvas, 56 x 68.5 cm, private collection.

Winifred Nicholson, Father and Son, 1927, oil on canvas, 88 x 67, private collection.

Top image shows Ben and Winifred Nicholson, Westmorland, early 1920s, Tate Archive.