| Fraser
was an English illustrator and designer who trained
at Goldsmiths' College of Art, London from 1919 to 1923.
He quickly established himself as a professional illustrator,
and his association with Radio Times was particularly
renowned, covering the period 1926 through to the early
1970s. Fraser's artistic work was also featured in magazines
such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The
Studio, and The Listener. Fraser's early
work was clearly influenced by cubism and futurism,
whilst later work recalled 'the strength and contrast
of fine, early woodcut prints'. Fraser created Mr Therm
in 1932, 'a much-loved carton figure used by the British
gas industry' for over thirty years afterwards. During
the 1930s and 40s he worked as a poster designer for
LT, Shell, Guinness and the GPO. In the Second World
War Fraser was personally commissioned to do work for
the MOI by Edwin Embleton.
Post-war he became more active as a book illustrator,
working for publishers like the Folio Society, the Golden
Cockerel Press and the Limited Editions Club. He illustrated
Lord of the Rings in 1977. Papers from c.1915
to the 1980s are held at NAL.
Information collated from: Livingston, A.,
and Livingston, I., The Thames and Hudson Encyclopaedia
of Graphic Design and Designers, 1992, p.78; Anonymous,
'GPO Follows up Appeal to Public', Advertiser's
Weekly, Vol. 121, No. 1,579, August 26 1943, p.264;
Newton, E., 'The Poster in War-Time Britain', Art
and Industry, Vol.35, No.205, July 1943, p.4;
Questionnaire submitted by Royall, K. to Embleton,
E., Royall, K., 'Posters of the Second World War:
The Fourth Arm of British Defence', Unpublished M.A.,
University of Westminster, 1991; National Art Library,
'AAD Holdings', http://www.nal.vam.ac.uk/aad/aadalpha.html,
accessed August 28 2003
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