Tattenham Corner, the Epsom Derby

Educated at Winchester and then at the Royal Academy Schools, Holiday shared a studio with Lionel Edwards on whom he had a considerable influence. He served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery on the Western Front during the First World War, painting many pictures for the army messes, often including figures of horses in service, and his talent in capturing the form, speed and movement of horses has been effectively utilised in the present watercolour. Edwards said of his friend that 'no one can, or ever could, paint a horse in action better than Gilbert could'.

The Derby Festival has been held at Epsom since 1780 and the Tattenham Corner is a fence at the final bend of the course, known for it's challenging position at the foot of a steep hill.