The first major study of John Armstrong's work, drawing on new and unpublished research that puts into context the highly original vision of a strongly independent and imaginative artist waiting to be rediscovered.A superb classical painter and draughtsman, Armstrong also undertook much work in film, theatre, and ballet, as well as being a successful designer of ceramics and murals. He was also a committed supporter of the Labour party, contributing designs to its election leaflets in 1945, and an active political campaigner.As a painter he has often been associated with the surrealists, especially after becoming a member of Unit One, a group formed by his contemporary Paul Nash in 1933 to promote modern art, architecture, and design, although his work resists any easy categorization.