Feliks Topolski: Drawing Debden

Be transported behind the scenes through a series of Topolski’s captivating sketches.

About the exhibition 

In 1957, artist Feliks Topolski RA (1907–1989) was commissioned by the Bank of England to sketch everyday life at its newly opened printing works in Debden, Essex. All of our banknotes are still printed here today.

Our exhibition explores the printing works through Topolski’s eyes. The artist’s dynamic style of drawing captures the activity of people and machinery at the newly-built factory.

Interactives

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The Bank of England Museum would like to thank the Topolski Studio for their help with this exhibition.

The Topolski Studio is an arts educational organisation that continues Feliks Topolski’s legacy of pictorial reportage. Through a yearly residency, now in its sixth year, it enables young artists to record today’s issues through drawing and produce their own contemporary Chronicle.

We are also grateful to:

Estate of Feliks Topolski
Ruth Borchard Collection / Piano Nobile Gallery
The Bank of England Archive
The Bank of England Notes Directorate

This page was last updated 27 February 2024