Title - Devon - Travel By Train.
Location - South Devon, England.
Artist - Robert Johnston (1906-?).
Description - Undoubtably south Devon, with it's distinctive red cliffs. But, is it somewhere in particular? We think maybe it's based on Sidmouth, but does anyone know better? Trees, scattered houses and church, red cliffs and yellow sand, small yachts on a blue sea - an idyllic holiday advertisment in Johnston's distinctive style.
Year Published - 1960
Size - Quad Royal (approx 50 x 40in or 127 x 102cm)
Other Details:
Original Vintage British Railway Travel Poster.
Published by British Railways (Western Region) P.R.165/60
Printed in Great Britain by The Haycock Press Ltd, London, SE5.
Condition Grade and Condition Report:
Grade: B+, unconserved.
Not folded, top right edge wear, edge tear lower left side with acid free tape on rear. This poster has an unusual screen over-print of the printer details at the bottom (which is not quite straight and is the same as other similar posters we have seen. This was produced for the North American market, and the white over-print covers the wording referring to that, so that it could be used in the UK). More detailed photos are available on request if required.
More About The Artist:
Robert Johnston was born, as far as is known, on Rothesay island off the Scottish coast in 1906, the eldest of three brothers. A product of the stormy west coast of Scotland, with a passion for the sea and ships, it would have been natural for Johnston to have associated himself with some kind of seamanship, and in WWII he commanded HMS Louis.
He was a three-times summer exhibitioner at the Royal Academy, a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, which he joined in the late 1940s, the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours from 1954 and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters from 1963.
He is known as a creator of rural idylls and tradesmen depicted as happy in their work for Austin Motor Company, Longbridge car brochures. He also took on many magazine and book illustration commissions, and produced a number of posters for British Railways.
