BRANGWYN

Anglo-Welsh artist Frank Brangwyn was actually born in Bruges, but his family returned to London when he was eight years old. He took to sketching regularly in his early teens and, aged 18, Brangwyn exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time. During the 1890s he produced book illustrations, continuing to do this for the rest of his career. In the 1900s Brangwyn began designing furniture, textiles, ceramics and other media. He was made an Official War artist in World War I, gaining repute through his posters, and was further recognised with an RA appointment (1919) and a knighthood (1941). Brangwyn was given a major retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy, the first time this honour had been accorded to a living artist.