At John Craxton’s memorial service, Sir David Attenborough—both a close friend and admirer of the artist’s work—paid tribute to Craxton’s wickedly playful spirit. “He had a robust sense of humour and an almost unforgivable taste for puns,” Attenborough recalled. Among Craxton’s most whimsical creations was a series of cat-themed linocuts, each steeped in feline wordplay. One depicted a cat perched atop a column, aptly titled Cat-a-pillar; others followed suit with names like Cat-astrophe and Cat-a-pult.

But beneath the humour lay a profound understanding of his favourite animal. Craxton didn’t just observe cats—he seemed to speak their silent language. His partner Richard Riley noted, “Craxton was so familiar with the vocabulary of cat moves, gestures and stances that he could capture them with utter conviction in a few strokes of the pen or brush.”

This was cat-watching distilled to its essence: wide, unblinking eyes and an inscrutable stare—a gaze heavy with meanings waiting to be uncovered.

Format: Giclée Print, Limited Edition (1/850) on 310gsm thick, 100% cotton rag.

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© William NicholsonWe strongly recommend selecting the mounting option when framing this image. This ensures the entire print remains intact—preserving the limited edition number and avoiding the need for any trimming.