Estuary

Morris cox, also known as Mauris Cox was a British post-war and contemporary painter, printmaker, writer, poet and puppeteer.

At the age of thirteen, Cox was awarded a scholarship to the West Ham School of Art, where he underwent six years of rigorous training, honing his artistic skills. Following this period, he pursued a career in advertising. However, upon realising his disinterest in the field, Cox redirected his focus towards printmaking, painting, and the design of book jackets, notably for his renowned Gogmagog series.

During the Second World War, Cox served as a team leader in the Civil Defence Light Rescue Service during the Blitz. Concurrently, he began producing colour linocuts in 1930 and continued to create oil and watercolour paintings for over six decades.

In 1957, Morris Cox established the Gogmagog Press, as a one man private press that allowed him to print his own work independently, free from the constraints of traditional publishing norms. Between 1957 and 1983, Cox produced 35 original, illustrated, handmade limited edition books at Gogmagog Press. The press gained acclaim for its exceptional craftsmanship and artistic collaborations, notably with Cox’s wife, Diana, and the artist David Jones. Named after the legendary Celtic giant, Gogmagog Press was dedicated to preserving and celebrating folklore, mythology, and British cultural heritage. It emerged as a prominent example of the era’s burgeoning private press movement, highlighting the concentrated artistic practice in book creation.

Before his death in 1998, the Victoria and Albert Museum held a celebratory exhibition in his name after their acquisition of his personal archive of Gogmagog books and early colour prints.

Museums
Victoria and Albert Museum
British Museum