Tooting High Street

Edward Arthur Phipson (1854–1931) Edward Arthur Phipson, who adopted the name Evacustes—from the Greek for “ready listener”—was one of the most prolific British topographical watercolourists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in King’s Norton, Birmingham, he produced over 1,400 watercolours, most depicting views across England, capturing the architectural and rural character of towns and cities in transition. Beyond his artistic career, Phipson was a committed utopian, attempting to establish ideal communities in Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. In 1905, he joined the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, actively campaigning to preserve historic structures and promote the reuse of traditional materials.