Ellis Silas

Ellis Silas was born in London, Middlesex England. His father was an artist and designer and his mother an opera singer. He was educated by private tutors before working in his father's studio, where he studied under the well-known artist Walter Sickert. Marine art became his main interest and he painted in English coastal towns.

In 1907, Ellis sailed to Australia where he spent time painting in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide before he settled in Perth.

When war was declared in 1914 Silas joined the Australian Imperial Force and continued sketching and painting whenever he was able. He had served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) for 3 years and had a strong sense of patriotism.

On the evening of 25 April 1915 his unit landed at Gallipoli. Ellis served with distinction and recorded his experiences in a detailed diary and sketchbook which was published in 1916 under the title Crusading at Anzac. Silas was one of only three artists to record Australian participation at Gallipoli from first-hand experience and the only one of these to paint battle scenes.

He returned to Australia in 1921 and lived in Sydney, working as a commercial artist and contributing articles and cartoons to the Bulletin.

In 1922 he travelled to the Trobriand Islands to paint. In 1926 he published his work under the title A Primitive Arcadia.

In 1925 Ellis returned to England and continued to work as a marine artist. Ellis also illustrated books, designed posters and was commissioned by shipping companies to execute works to hang in their ocean liners.

Ellis executed a series of paintings depicting his wartime experiences. The Australian War Memorial holds over 60 sketches, drawings and watercolours by Ellis.