Rare showing of private art collection donated to the University of Surrey

Works by Picasso, Chagall, Cocteau and Klee form part of a new art exhibition at The Lightbox gallery and museum, Woking.

The exhibition, which opens today, is made up of art from the collection of Professor Lewis and Mary Elton, parents of comedian Ben Elton, who recently donated their 38-piece art collection to the University of Surrey's Lewis Elton Gallery.

Professor Elton (pictured) was head of physics at Battersea College of Technology and accompanied it in its relocation to Guildford as University of Surrey.

In 1963, he started a project to show original art works in the physics department and after the move it soon branched out into the main campus. When the university’s gallery was relocated in 1997, the new space was dedicated to him. 

“Lewis welcomed me on the first day I worked at the University in 1983,” says Pat Grayburn, arts administrator at the University of Surrey. “He and Mary have given marvellous support to all our exhibitions and other arts events since then. For them to donate this marvellous collection to the University is an amazing act of generosity.”

Professor Elton arrived in England in 1939 as a refugee from Prague. Following in his father’s academic footsteps he studied for a PhD in theoretical physics before becoming a lecturer at King’s College London.

The Lewis and Mary Elton Collection contains a diverse range of work. His upbringing has influenced his choices, with Picasso, Chagall, Cocteau and Klee all considered ‘degenerate’ by Hitler, who set out to destroy their work during his time in power.

In addition, the collection contains a piece smuggled out of the slave labour camp at Mikhailowka by the artist Arnold Daghani, who was one of the few survivors of the camp.

The painting View of Quarry Street by Nicholas Verrall also features in the collection and is close to where the Eltons lived in Guildford.

• The Lewis and Mary Elton Art Collection will be on show at The Lightbox gallery and museum, Woking, from Tuesday January 10 until Sunday January 29, entrance is free.

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