Cecil Walter Bacon, MSIA (24 August 1905 – 12 August 1992), who signed his work "CWB", was a British artist and illustrator.[1] Much of his work was in the art deco style.
Cecil Walter Bacon MSIA | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 August 1905 Battle, Sussex, England |
| Died | 12 August 1992 (aged 86) |
| Other names | CWB |
| Education | |
| Alma mater | Hastings School of Art |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Known for | Poster design |
Bacon was born in Battle, Sussex, England, where his father was a businessman who ran a tannery.[1] He was educated at Sutton Valence School, St Lawrence College, Ramsgate, and Hastings School of Art, being at the latter from 1923 to 1925, when he was taught by Philip Cole.[1] In 1926, he began working for an advertising agency on London, before turning freelance in 1929.[1] Between 1932 and 1935 he designed a number of posters for London Transport.[2]
During World War II, he served in the Royal Air Force as a Leading Aircraftsman, before, in 1942, being assigned to work producing propaganda artwork for the Ministry of Information.[1][2]
He worked regularly for the Radio Times and in 1943, during the war, he drew an illustration for the Christmas edition, depicting a soldier holding a sprig of holly.[3]
After the war, he produced designs for, among others, British Railways[2] and the Post Office Savings Bank.[1] He was adept at scraperboard work, and in 1951 wrote a book on the topic.[2] He also illustrated a number of books, and designed book jackets, including those for first editions of early works by Raymond Chandler.
Bacon married Irene Proctor in 1929; they had two sons.[1] He died on 12 August 1992.[1] A number of his posters are in the collection of the London Transport Museum.[2] A retrospective exhibition, Designer's Progress, took place in 1984 at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery.[1]
Bibliography
edit- Scraperboard drawing. How to do series. Vol. 41. Studio Publications. 1951.
Illustrations/ book jackets
edit- Morgan, Joan (1940). Citizen of Westminster. Chapman and Hall.
- Phelan, Jim (1941). Murder By Numbers. Methuen.
- King, Frank (1945). Gestapo Dormouse. Hale.
- Bunyan, John (1948). Pilgrims Progress. Collins.
- Morse, Richard (1949). Introduction to Wild Flowers. A & C Black.
- Teale, Edwin Way (1949). Dune Boy: the early years of a naturalist. Hale.
- Cain, James M. (1949). The Moth. Hale.
- Chandler, Raymond (1949). The Little Sister. Hamish Hamilton.
- Chandler, Raymond (1950). The Simple Art of Murder. Hamish Hamilton.
- York, Jeremy (1950). Sentence of Death. Andrew Melrose.
- Morton, HV (1964). A Traveller in Italy. Methuen, London.
- Randall, Anthony A. (1965). Ride A Tiger. Hale.
- Tatlock, Richard (1966). The Story of the Early Church. From the Beginnings to A.D. 316. A.R. Mowbray.
- Hogg, Gary (1971). The Shell book of exploring Britain. (maps)
- Downing, Todd. The Cat Screams. Methuen.
- McGivern, William P. The Big Heat. Hamish Hamilton.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Purdey, Brion (24 August 1992). "Obituary: Cecil Bacon". The Independent. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Artist: Cecil Walter Bacon – Poster and poster artwork collection". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ^ "Twelve of the best Radio Times Christmas covers". BBC. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
External links
edit
- Maps by CWB
- C W Bacon illustrates Radio Times – blog post recalling a meeting with Bacon, including original artworks
- Auction record for works by Bacon
- Fan site