Clinton: one of the problems with English music that that most of the English have never heard of it. Onlookers at a trad music session in a pub here are as often as not inclined to assume it's Irish.

Funny how many came up only with composers of art music - is that tongue in cheek (taking the question at face value and ignoring the 'folk ' context of Mudcat) or is it because English folk music is still so invisible (inaudible?)

The first names that springs to mind for me is John Kirkpatrick, but as a representative with world wide visibility Martin Carthy is probably a pretty good candidate, as is Eliza.

As for art music, I'll second that vote for Purcell.

Anahata