Eric Fraser
Encyclopedia
Eric George Fraser was one of the foremost British illustrators and graphic artists of his time, famous in the public mind for his regular contributions to the Radio Times
, and as the creator in 1931 of 'Mr Therm' in adverts for the Gas Light and Coke Company
.
He illustrated classic scenes from mythology, such as Beowulf
fighting the dragon. With pen and ink, he illustrated classic medieval scenes and several of the works of Shakespeare. Many of the drawings for the jackets designed in the 1960s for the Everyman's Library
series (published by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd
in Britain and E. P. Dutton
in America) were executed by Fraser. He also illustrated J. R. R. Tolkien
's books, such as the Folio Society
edition of The Lord of the Rings
in 1977.
Born in Vincent Street, London on June 11, 1902, he married Irene Grace Lovett on April 4, 1925, at the Parish Church of St John, Smith Square. He moved to Penn's Place, Hampton in 1935, where he lived until his death on November 15, 1983, working continuously in a studio at the end of the garden until just a week before his death.
Books by Sylvia Backemeyer and Alec Davis record Fraser's life as an artist; each includes extensive examples of his work.
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
, and as the creator in 1931 of 'Mr Therm' in adverts for the Gas Light and Coke Company
Gas Light and Coke Company
The Gas Light and Coke Company , was a company that made and supplied coal gas and coke. The Company was located on Horseferry Road in Westminster, London...
.
He illustrated classic scenes from mythology, such as Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
fighting the dragon. With pen and ink, he illustrated classic medieval scenes and several of the works of Shakespeare. Many of the drawings for the jackets designed in the 1960s for the Everyman's Library
Everyman's Library
Everyman's Library is a series of reprinted classic literature currently published in hardback by Random House. It was originally an imprint of J. M. Dent , who continue to publish Everyman Classics in paperback.J. M. Dent and Company began to publish the series in 1906...
series (published by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd
J. M. Dent
Joseph Malaby Dent was a British book publisher who produced the Everyman's Library series.Dent was born in Darlington in what is now the Britaania public house. After a short and unsuccessful stint as an apprentice printer he took up bookbinding...
in Britain and E. P. Dutton
E. P. Dutton
E. P. Dutton was an American book publishing company founded as a book retailer in Boston, Massachusetts in 1852 by Edward Payson Dutton. In 1986, the company was acquired by Penguin Group and split into two imprints: Dutton Penguin and Dutton Children's Books.-History:Edward Payson Dutton founded...
in America) were executed by Fraser. He also illustrated J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's books, such as the Folio Society
Folio Society
The Folio Society is a book club based in London that produces new editions of classic books. Their books are notable for their high quality bindings and original illustrations...
edition of The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
in 1977.
Born in Vincent Street, London on June 11, 1902, he married Irene Grace Lovett on April 4, 1925, at the Parish Church of St John, Smith Square. He moved to Penn's Place, Hampton in 1935, where he lived until his death on November 15, 1983, working continuously in a studio at the end of the garden until just a week before his death.
Books by Sylvia Backemeyer and Alec Davis record Fraser's life as an artist; each includes extensive examples of his work.
External links
http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/fraser_eric_townbyariver.htm — Entry for Eric Fraser at Art of the Print, with an illustration of his print "Town by a River".
(This link appears to be disallowed when linking from another page – like this one – but copying the link into the navigation bar of the browser seems to work.)- Eric Fraser at Chris Beetles
- Garrick's Temple, Hampton by Eric Fraser at The Twickenham Museum
(Fraser's illustration appears on the museum's page for David GarrickDavid GarrickDavid Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
.)
