Artists from United Kingdom

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary British Artists of all time. This list of famous British Artists is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of British Artists.

1. #1

   

   David Hockney

   b. 1937

   HPI 70.3542 langs

   David Hockney is most famous for his paintings of landscapes and portraits. He is also well known for his work in photography.

2. #2

   

   Banksy

   b. 1970

   HPI 68.3263 langs

   Banksy is most famous for his graffiti art that often has a political message.

3. #3

   

   Edward Burne-Jones

   1833 - 1898

   HPI 67.0141 langs

   Edward Burne-Jones was a British painter and designer closely associated with the late-Victorian era art movement known as the...Read moreShow less

   Edward Burne-Jones was a British painter and designer closely associated with the late-Victorian era art movement known as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He was one of the most important and influential painters of his generation.

4. #4

   

   Charles Bronson

   b. 1952

   HPI 64.7216 langs

   Charles Bronson, born Michael Gordon Peterson in 1952, is most famous for his notoriety as a British prisoner with a history of violent...Read moreShow less

   Charles Bronson, born Michael Gordon Peterson in 1952, is most famous for his notoriety as a British prisoner with a history of violent incidents and hostage-taking in jail. A surprising lesser-known fact is that he legally changed his name to Charles Arthur Salvador in 2014 and has become a self-taught artist, creating and selling paintings from prison to fund his legal battles. His lasting impact includes influencing discussions on prison reform and mental health, as his story has been depicted in books, documentaries, and media, cementing his status as a controversial figure in British culture.

5. #5

   

   William Etty

   1787 - 1849

   HPI 60.2233 langs

   British painter (1787–1849)

6. #6

   

   Damien Hirst

   b. 1965

   HPI 59.8438 langs

   English artist

7. #7

   

   Mary Delany

   1700 - 1788

   HPI 57.5218 langs

   English Bluestocking, artist, and letter-writer (1700-1788)

8. #8

   

   Eric Gill

   1882 - 1940

   HPI 53.9422 langs

   English sculptor, typeface designer, and printmaker

9. #9

   

   Cassandra Austen

   1773 - 1845

   HPI 53.1019 langs

   amateur English watercolorist and the elder sister of Jane Austen (1773-1845)

10. #10

    

    John Butler Yeats

    1839 - 1922

    HPI 52.9219 langs

    Irish artist (1839-1922)