Born in Tyldesley, Lancs., his father was a master painter and decorator. He spent three years at Manchester School of Art before entering the Royal Navy in the First World War. In 1919 he attended the Royal College of Art, then worked as a part-time art master and freelance designer and illustrator. He worked in various capacities for the London Press Exchange Group, an advertising agency, between 1926 and 1961. Whilst in bed with the 'flu during the Second World War, he invented the 'Squander Bug', originally named the 'Money Bug', which gained an international reputation and was repeated in many forms He was art director of the controversial 'Black Widow' poster, and designed the Festival of Britain typeface.

Information summarised from: Darracott, J. and Loftus, B., Second World War Posters, 1981, p.23

Related texts: Boydell, P., The Artist in Advertising, [date]