David Gentleman

(b. 1930)

David Gentleman is a British artist, illustrator, and designer whose work spans printmaking, book illustration, murals, and public design. Known for clarity of line and a restrained, observational approach, his work often engages with landscape, architecture, and social history. He studied at the Royal College of Art, where he was taught by Edward Bawden and John Nash, both of whom had a lasting influence on his practice. Alongside his work in print and illustration, Gentleman has produced a number of notable public commissions, including the mural at Charing Cross Underground Station, created from enlarged wood engravings- a medium in which he is particularly accomplished. The work reflects both his technical skill and his sustained interest in London’s built environment and history. His illustrated books, such as The London Alphabet and Coastlines, demonstrate a continued engagement with place and observation. Printmaking has been central to his practice, particularly lithography. At the Curwen Studio he worked with master printer Stanley Jones, producing lithographs that translate his precise draughtsmanship into a graphic form defined by economy of line and tonal control. Gentleman has exhibited widely, and his work is held in major public collections including Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum.