Rowland Hilder (1905-1993)

Known as the ‘Turner of his Generation’ Hilder was a Kentish artist who produced views of Kent that were as distinctive as Constable’s views of Suffolk. Born in New York, he arrived in Britain aged 10 when his father returned to enlist in the British Army. His main work was as an illustrator, initially for Oxford University Press, winning the 1929 Times Illustrator Award for his drawings in ‘Treasure Island’. He also illustrated for a wide range of other publishers, including Shell Mex. A camofleur in World War II, he then worked for the Ministry of Information producing glorious images such as for this poster. Nothing could better evoke the feeling of Britain (warm beer and the thwack of leather against willow) than his idyllic, bucolic calm Kentish scenes such as this).

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