Terence Tenison Cuneo (1907-1996)

1907 - 1996

Terence Cuneo was born in London in 1907, son of American-born Cyrus and Nell Cuneo, artists, who met whilst studying with Whistler in Paris. His father died when Terence was a mere 10 years old, but by then young Terence already had experience in the artist’s studio. Nell moved to Cornwall where her son spent a happy childhood.


During World War II, Cuneo served as a sapper in the Royal Engineers. His talent was recognised by the Army and he was commissioned by the War Artists Advisory Committee to illustrate tank and aircraft factories. After the war, Cuneo was commissioned to produce a series of works illustrating railways, bridges and locomotives. He had the ability to capture the power and movement of steam locomotives as well as illustrating the action of military campaigns with great attention to detail and realism. Well known works are “The Battle of Waterloo”, “Battle of Britain” and “The Last Train to Weymouth”. His commercial works of this time adorned Director’s offices and Boardrooms, as well as illustrating calendars and company publications.

A significant ... show more

Terence Cuneo was born in London in 1907, son of American-born Cyrus and Nell Cuneo, artists, who met whilst studying with Whistler in Paris. His father died when Terence was a mere 10 years old, but by then young Terence already had experience in the artist’s studio. Nell moved to Cornwall where her son spent a happy childhood.


During World War II, Cuneo served as a sapper in the Royal Engineers. His talent was recognised by the Army and he was commissioned by the War Artists Advisory Committee to illustrate tank and aircraft factories. After the war, Cuneo was commissioned to produce a series of works illustrating railways, bridges and locomotives. He had the ability to capture the power and movement of steam locomotives as well as illustrating the action of military campaigns with great attention to detail and realism. Well known works are “The Battle of Waterloo”, “Battle of Britain” and “The Last Train to Weymouth”. His commercial works of this time adorned Director’s offices and Boardrooms, as well as illustrating calendars and company publications.

A significant

point in his career, bringing his name to the public, worldwide, was when he was appointed the official artist for the Coronation of Elizabeth II. This led to other portraits including Field Marshal Montgomery and, as his popularity grew, he was much revered by his peers and admired by the public.

Although Cuneo is best known for his works on engineering subjects, it cannot be overlooked as to the wide range of paintings and subjects he produced during his lifetime. This included portraits, equestrian portraits, landscapes and big game in Africa as well as his works of manufacturing, engineering and mineral extraction. It is estimated that he painted more than 7,000 works during his lifetime, illustrating this versatile range.

Whilst enjoying some time at home, a cat brought in a dead mouse, which he began to sketch. This led to his “signature” mouse work in his paintings. From 1954 onwards many works included a small mouse, either lifelike or cartoonish. They can often be difficult to find, but this work of “Gulls on Leisure Isle” clearly shows a mouse rushing to avoid their attention. He is known to have created a series of mouse pictures, with the characters portrayed as human, often historic, figures.

His autobiography, “The Mouse & his Master” was published in 1977.

His work has been widely used from book jackets, model railway catalogues, to posters, jigsaws and postage stamps. His work can be found in many museums and galleries from the Guildhall Art Gallery, The Royal Institution, Lloyds of London, National Railway Museum, York and the Imperial War Museum.

In 1996 he was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire for Service to the Arts. He was a member of the Royal Society of British Artists, awarded the OBE and was a Companion of the Victorian Order.

Terence Cuneo died in 1996. A memorial trust was established in March 2002 who commissioned a one and a half, life size bronze memorial statue of Cuneo by Philip Jackson. It was unveiled in 2004 and stood proudly on the concourse of Waterloo Station in memory of the artist’s many works on locomotives which can be seen in the book “The Railway Painting of Terence Cuneo” published in 1984. It has subsequently been relocated to Brompton Barracks at Chatham. In tribute to Cuneo’s own trademark, the statue includes a hidden mouse peering from under a book by the artist’s feet. The Trust also arranged an annual prize in Cuneo’s memory, at the Slade School of Art.