Lampitt was born in Worcester in 1906, the eldest of three sons of Roland Edward Lampitt and Florence (née Pope). He was self-taught as an artist.[2] He painted in oil and in watercolour.[3]
During the Second World War he worked in RAF Intelligence; this is thought to have influenced his subsequent work showing aerial views of landscapes and towns.[2][3]
He produced illustrations for children's magazines, including Modern Wonder, Look and Learn and Treasure; and other periodicals including Illustrated, The Passing Show, and John Bull,[1][3] to which he contributed from the 1940s to its closure in the 1960s, often providing its cover picture.[2]
He collaborated with his brother-in-law, the journalist Henry Deverson, with work including the series "Mainly for Children" published by The Sunday Times.[1] From 1965 to 1972 Lampitt produced the artwork for nine Ladybird Books.[2]
He produced travel posters for Great Western Railway, Southern Railway, London, Midland and Scottish Railway and British Railways.[1]
Lampitt lived for many years in Sidcup, and he married in 1938 Mona Deverson; they had two daughters. He died in 1988, aged 82.[1][2]