The Titfield Thunderbolt by Edward Bawden

Edward Bawden was a successful and prolific English printmaker, graphic designer, illustrator and painter. He studied at the School of Art in Cambridge (1919-22) and at the Design School of the Royal College of Art (1922-6), where he was a contemporary of Eric Ravilious and was taught by Paul Nash.

This poster advertises the film “The Titfield Thunderbolt” produced by Ealing Studios in 1952. Ealing Studios often commissioned artists such as Edward Bawden, John Piper and Edward Ardizzone to design posters for their films and Bawden’s illustrative and humorous style is very different to that of American film posters of the time.