Painter, stage and film designer, theatrical producer, book illustrator and writer, son of the actor and writer H B Irving. Born in London. During World War I served in Royal Naval Air Service and won the Croix de Guerre. Studied at Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting, 1919, and Royal Academy Schools. In 1928 helped with production of John Masefield’s play The Coming of Christ in Canterbury Cathedral; about the same time worked with Douglas Fairbanks Senior on the classic films The Man in the Iron Mask and The Taming of the Shrew, with Mary Pickford. There were 50 major film and stage production designs over the next 40 years. There were also over 40 stage productions, including Hamlet and The Good Companions. In 1951 published a biography of his grandfather the noted actor-manager Sir Henry Irving.

Text source: 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman (Art Dictionaries Ltd, part of Sansom & Company)


Do you know someone who would love this resource?
Tell them about it...