BEHIND THE BRAND:
LAWRENCE

Founded in 1859 in London, England, Lawrence (formerly T.N. Lawrence & Son Ltd.) has a rich and varied history in the art materials industry, particularly in engraving and printmaking supplies. Known for their carefully curated selection of high quality art supplies, from painting materials to specialised printmaking tools, their extensive printmaking range offers everything artists need for wood engraving, lino printing, etching, lithography, and screen printing.

Lawrence started out as manufacturers of fine-grained boxwood blocks for engravers, an essential product in the pre-digital era of printmaking and illustration. Evolving and adapting to the burgeoning print industry, the company began supplying materials and tools essential for letterpress printing. In 1895 they expanded their range to include wood letters and in 1901, began producing fine art electrotypes. By 1911, they were making printers' wood type and lithographic scrapers. Their first recorded mail order catalogue dates back to 1925.

There were several generations of the Lawrence family active in London in the 19th century. George Lawrence, a carpenter, was known for crafting picture frames. He was followed by his son Thomas John Lawrence, a cabinetmaker and hand mirror maker based in Clerkenwell, and then by his grandson, also named Thomas John Lawrence, who founded the wood block making business.

In the following three generations, Thomas Neal Lawrence's son, Stanley Thomas Evans Lawrence joined the family business in 1917, as in turn did his grandson David Lawrence, and then from 1984 his great-grandson, Martin Lawrence.

Stanley was active in the business for almost 69 years, from 1917 until 1986, becoming sole proprietor in 1941. With an exceptional knowledge of handmade papers and wood engraving materials, his expertise was celebrated in the book Tales from Bleeding Heart Yard.

Lawrence has produced boxwood blocks used by notable artists including Eric Gill, Eric Ravilious, and Reynolds Stone. This included the block that Stone used for the masthead of The Times in 1949. Lawrence also supplied many of Naum Gabo's inks for his woodblock prints in the 1950s and 1960s.

The company became T.N. Lawrence & Son Ltd. in 1963. Martin Lawrence, Stanley's grandson and the seventh generation, led the business from 1984 until 2024, and was later joined by his daughter, Amy Lawrence. In 2024, the business was acquired by Jackson’s Art Supplies, ensuring the continuation of its legacy.

The two companies share many similarities and complement each other’s strengths. Lawrence brings an unmatched selection of printmaking and paper supplies to Jackson’s, and Jackson’s - fine art specialists who have been supplying art materials to artists worldwide since 2000 - will introduce exciting new art materials to the Lawrence brand.