The Chairman welcomed club members ,including 2 new members,to the 507th meeting of Henley Probus Club and ,following a short business update including a report from the Treasurer, the Chairman introduced Graham Twemlow who gave a talk,assisted by a slide presentation “The Great British Poster Artists: The Golden Age of Posters in Britain.”
Poster art in Britain during the 1920s and 1930s was a thriving industry enabled by enlightened clients such as Shell-Mex, the London Underground, and the four railway companies. Many other organisations, including department stores such Bobby & Co, Derry & Toms and Heal’s followed this lead and advertised their products or services via illustrated posters.
The talk explored the works of the pioneers of British poster art – artists include Tom Purvis; E. McKnight Kauffer; Paul Nash; Graham Sutherland. It covered the development of British Posters in Britain primarily through the early and mid 1900s- it commenced with an introduction of the preparation and use of Posters (covering printing methodology and the establishment of printing factories), followed by the development of posters from black and white through to colour.
Graham stressed the importance of the role of Railway Companies (particularly GWR,LMS,LNER and SR in the period 1923-1947) and London Underground in the development and use of posters; these posters were able to advertise and then service key railway and therefore holiday destinations throughout the UK…..
The talk concluded with questions from the audience followed by a very warm message of thanks and appreciation from Club members.