Phillip Boydell (1896 - 1984) was a British designer and illustrator.

Life and work

Boydell was born on 21 May 1896 in Tyldesley Lancashire, to Oliver Boydell (a master decorator) and Merinda.[1] He obtained a scholarship at the Manchester School of Art,[2] but his studies were interrupted by conscription in 1914. During his service in the Royal Navy, his vessel the tugboat HMS Blackcock[3] was lost off Murmansk in winter,[4] but Boydell lived to tell the tale,[5] and was able to continue his education at the Royal College of Art.[2]

In 1923 he married sculptor Bertha White.[6]

In 1926 he was offered the position of Art Director at the London Press Exchange,[2] and was on the Board of Directors when he retired in 1961.

Boydell is best known for two posters and a typeface.

  • The Squander Bug,[7] a poster encouraging people not to spend money wastefully but invest in savings bonds,[8] was so successful that derivatives were used in several other countries. This he created whilst in bed with influenza[2]
  • The Black Widow poster [9][10] for road safety (for which Boydell was art director) which aroused controversy for its (in those days) relatively direct approach.
  • The Festival font [11][12] was the official typeface for the 1951 Festival of Britain, and was used in all the communications for the festival.

He died at home in 1984.

References

  1. ↑ "Family of Oliver BOYDELL and Merinda BEVAN".
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gowing, Mary (1957). "The Creative Mind in Advertising". Art and Industry. Studio Publishing. 62, 63: 134..
  3. ↑ http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7688946 National Service Record; National archive ref: ADM 337/53/315
  4. ↑ http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4115396 Loss of Tug Blackcock National Archives ref ADM 137/3725
  5. ↑ Imperial War Museum Archive 8776/02
  6. ↑ http://www.boydell.com/bft/Main/n61.htm#3193
  7. ↑ Darracott, Joseph; Belinda Loftus (1981). Second World War Posters. London: Imperial War Museum. ISBN 978-0-901627-06-3.
  8. ↑ Bryant, Mark (Aug 1989). World War II in cartoons. New York: Smithmark. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-8317-9658-7.
  9. ↑ http://drbexl.co.uk/2009/12/22/phillip-boydell-b-1896/
  10. ↑ wordpress.com
  11. ↑ 'Festival' at paratype website
  12. ↑ 'Festival' at Linotype website
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