Phillip Boydell

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

Life and work[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ "Family of Oliver BOYDELL and Merinda BEVAN".
  2. ^ a b c d Gowing, Mary (1957). "The Creative Mind in Advertising". Art and Industry. 62, 63. Studio Publishing: 134..
  3. ^ Catalogue description Name Boydell, Philip Service Number: Z/1593 RNVR Division: Mersey Date... 1915–1916.
  4. ^ Catalogue description Loss of Tug BLACKCOCK. 1918-01-28.
  5. ^ Imperial War Museum Archive 8776/02
  6. ^ www.boydell.com http://www.boydell.com/bft/Main/n61.htm#3193. Retrieved 2024-06-02. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  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. ^ "Paratype.com — excellent fonts for your project".
  12. ^ "'Festival' at Linotype website".
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