Leonard Rosoman OBE, RA

(1913-2012)

Leonard Rosoman was a British painter, illustrator, muralist, and teacher known for his powerful draughtsmanship and expressive use of colour. Born in West Hampstead, London, in 1913, he studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and became one of the most versatile British artists of the twentieth century, working across illustration, painting, stage design, and mural commissions. Rosoman first gained recognition through black-and-white illustration and commercial work, including illustrations for the Radio Times, where his dramatic handling of white space and deep shadow became highly distinctive. During the Second World War he served as an official war artist, producing some of the most memorable images of the Blitz and wartime London, including scenes of firefighters working in the Underground during air raids. Alongside his work as an artist, Rosoman was an influential teacher, serving as Head of Painting at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts and later teaching at the Royal Academy Schools. He was elected Royal Academician in 1975 and appointed OBE in 1981.