George Sheringham

Born in London in 1884, George Sheringham studied at the King's School, Gloucester, the Slade School of Fine Art, and later at the Sorbonne in Paris. He first exhibited in Paris and went on to show work in cities including London, Venice, Brussels, Berlin, Melbourne, and New York.

Sheringham worked across several artistic worlds at once. Alongside painting and decorative art, he illustrated books by writers such as Max Beerbohm and Edmond Rostand, and he also collaborated on and wrote books of his own, including Drawing in Pen and Pencil and Design in the Theatre. That mix of practical design and literary illustration makes him an especially interesting figure for readers who enjoy beautifully imagined books.

He became widely known for his stage and costume designs, especially for productions with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, and in 1937 he was among the first people to receive the Royal Designers for Industry distinction. He died in 1937, leaving behind a career that joined fine art, book illustration, interior decoration, and theatre design with unusual ease.