| Robert
Ayton |
 |
| Nationality - English |
Profession - Illustrator |
| Date of birth - 1915
|
Date of death - 1985 |
| Place of birth
- London : borough of Wood Green |
|
Robert Norton Ayton was born in Bowes Park, in the London borough of Wood Green in 1915.
Robert was one of four brothers who all attended Park Lane Primary School in Wembley and it was here that he first showed a keen interest in art and model-making.
In 1928, following the death of his father, the 13-year-old Robert was offered an apprenticeship with Adkin and Sons, a branch of the Imperial Tobacco Company. Both Robert's father and grandfather had both been loyal employees to Adkin, but Robert politely declined the offer of a job and instead went on to follow his passion at the Harrow School of Art.
After graduating from Art School, Robert worked for several advertising agencies, including Dorland's, but soon went on to become a freelance artist.
|
|
In the late 1930s he undertook substantial commissions from Rolls Royce, with other commissions included illustrating aeroplanes and fast cars, including Malcolm (later Sir Malcolm) Campbell’s Bluebird.
In 1939 Robert met Joan Elmes, who would later become his wife. Because Robert was called to Army service in the Second World War they saw very little of each other during the next few years , but were eventually married in 1942.
Robert went on to become one of the main artists of the Eagle magazine for which he illustrated the 'Jack O'Lantern' series, set in England during Napoleonic times. Ayton and the writer George Beardmore, through their strip, gave a vivid insight to nineteenth century London, with all its street intrigues, public hangings and wealthy aristocracy. The series was eventually taken over by C. L. Doughty, but the quality off artwork was somewhat reduced and 'Jack O'Lantern' was subsequently shelved in the early 1960s.
Like many former Eagle artists (including Frank Hampson, Frank Humphris and Martin Aitchison) Robert went on to work for Ladybird Books, and prior to 1980 illustrated 44 of their books on a variety of subjects, from famous legends to science and technology. He would often immortalise himself in his own drawings - for example, he drew himself as Aladdin in Aladdin and his wonderful lamp, which he illustrated for Ladybird series 740.
After working for Ladybird Robert went on to teach illustration part-time at the West of England College of Art. He also illustrated for Oxford University Press, drew television background illustrations for BBC Bristol, and from 1980 was a member of an artistic collective known as the Bristol Savages.
In 1983 Robert and Joan, who never had children of their own, moved to the small town of Nailsea in North Somerset, where two years later at the age of 70, Robert died after suffering a massive heart attack. |
|
|
Robert Ayton
bibliography - 43
listed |
|
 |
Click
on one of the Robert
Ayton books below
for details on synopsis, first edition issue
points, a picture of the book, and collectors
information |
|
| Robert
Ayton books Wee
have for sale |
|
|
All
the Robert Ayton
books listed below are currently for sale
on our website - we may have some others in
stock so please ask if you don't see the title
you're looking for. |
|
|
|
|
|
