Stephen Russ: English Book Covers (1945-1975)

In 2017 Martin Salisbury judged Stephen Russ to be “one of the finest designer-illustrators of his generation” and admired the way “his work looks as fresh and contemporary today as it did in the original context” of the 1940s to 1970s. His day job involved teaching fabric design and screen printing at Bath Academy of Art (Corsham), but access to his creative talent today relies on scanning the internet for hardback books with his dust jackets and Penguin paperbacks with his cover illustrations. Perhaps most famous for giving the world the phoenix on D H Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover, he produced memorable covers for Collins, Andre Deutsch and The Bodley Head. His is an example of a talent which deserves to be more widely appreciated.

Speaker: Mark Golder

This is a Bath Society of Artists talk – £5 on the door (cash or card).