Bartlett, a member of NS, travelled widely abroad, including California, Florida and New Mexico, where he painted D H Lawrence’s widow Frieda, which she said was the “best portrait ever made” of her. Back in England, E McKnight Kauffer offered Bartlett a job with the W S Crawford advertising agency, which led to wide-ranging work and to Bartlett being called “a poster artist of the first rank”. He also did freelance work for major railway, oil and telephone companies. In 1939 Bartlett volunteered for the Royal Navy, by 1941 attaining the rank of temporary acting lieutenant-commander, and served in the Intelligence Division. His time included four years at the Admiralty in the key Room 39 and in the underground bunker where he was in contact with Winston Churchill. After hostilities, Bartlett became art director with Erwin, Wasey and Company, where he designed the cupid tailor figure for Kayser Bondor; spent two years visiting America; then had several years as creative director with the Pictorial Publicity Company, while freelancing on book illustrations and covers. He retired in 1963 as a freelance consultant, in 1967 organising the first national anti-litter week. Bartlett’s second wife, Peggy Nicoll, encouraged his advertising work and this and his wide range of styles undermined his being taken up by a major gallery. Bartlett’s pictures (which included a fine portrait of his third wife, Georgette Holm, and her daughter) were shown at the RA and in a solo exhibition at Selfridges just after the war.