Charles Shepard (artist)
English artist and sculptor (1892–1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Shepard[a], FSA (1892–1976) was an English artist and sculptor, best known for his work, as Shep, designing commercial posters, especially for the travel industry.
10 April 1892
- Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Charles Shepard | |
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.jpg) Charles Shepard in 1914 | |
| Born | Joseph Charles Mardel Shepard 10 April 1892 |
| Died | 13 December 1976 |
| Occupations | Visual artist, sculptor |
| Awards |
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Early life
Joseph Charles Mardel Shepard was born in Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire,[5] on 10 April 1892.[6][7] In childhood he heard a performance of a Bach cantata in church, and during it was impressed by the light coming through the church transept's stained glass windows.[8] This led, once his schooling was complete, to his studying stained glass making under Paul Woodroffe.[8]
Career
Shepard was commissioned into the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, the Essex Regiment on 7 March 1913, prior to the start of World War I.[9] On the outbreak of the war he was attached to the 2nd Battalion, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 2 February 1915.[10] By the end of the war he was attached to 1st Garrison Battalion, the Northamptonshire Regiment.[11] He resigned his commission on grounds on ill-health on 18 December 1926.[12] He held the rank of Temporary Captain while commandant of a prisoner-of-war camp, relinquishing this on 1 March 1919.[13][14]
After the war, he obtained an assistant's position at the Baynard Press,[8] eventually rising to be head of the studio.[6]
Among others, he designed posters for British Railways,[15] London North Eastern Railway,[16] London Transport,[6] Pullman,[2] the Orient Line,[8] the Royal Horticultural Society,[8] the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company,[6] the Southern Railway,[6] Union-Castle Line,[4] United States Lines,[17] and White Star Line.[4] He also designed the cover of the 1929 Christmas edition of The Radio Times.[18] He signed most of these works "Shep".
He painted a headpiece, in oils, for the Southern Railway's indicator board at Southampton Docks.[8]
During World War II Shepard was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve's Administrative and Special Duties Branch as a Pilot Officer on 22 June 1940.[19] He was promoted to Flying Officer on 22 July 1941.[20] An erroneous report that he had resigned his commission on 21 July 1942[21] was cancelled on 15 September 1942.[22][23] He relinquished his commission from the RAFVR, on 10 February 1954, keeping the rank of Flight Officer.[24]
He was appointed a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in February 1945.[25]
In 1961, when he described himself as an "artist, designer and sculptor", Shepard's working address was given as Slough.[26]
Legacy
Shepard died at Slough on 13 December 1976, aged 84.[b][7][27]
His posters are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum,[16] Science Museum Group,[6] and London Transport Museum.[26] The latter also has some of his correspondence.[26] Other posters have been auctioned by Bonhams and Christie's.[2][3]