A Life of Illustration and War
Born in Hammersmith, West London, John Berry was a British illustrator and painter who displayed early artistic talent. After studying at the Hammersmith School of Art, he was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy Schools, though he was unable to attend due to the outbreak of World War II. During the conflict, from 1941 to 1944, he served as an official war artist attached to the Eighth Army in North Africa and Egypt. His wartime paintings, such as '25 Pounder in action at Alamein', were exhibited at the National Gallery and moved to the Imperial War Museum.
His career was marked by a remarkable ability to reconstruct scenes through sketches and photographs. He painted witty and frivolous genre scenes set in the 17th century, as well as depictions of the Moslem world, including interiors, palaces, and scenes of people at prayer or playing chess.
Illustrations and Portraits
Berry is widely recognized for his prolific work in book illustration and advertising. Between 1961 and 1978, he illustrated thirty-five Ladybird books, including the "People at Work" series and the "Hannibal the hamster" series. He also contributed to publications for Corgi, Penguin, and Reader's Digest. In the realm of advertising, he created the iconic Esso tiger adverts, famously responding to a request for a tiger with the phrase, "Yes, put a tiger in your tank."
As a portrait painter, Berry's subjects included high-ranking military staff and prominent figures such as:
His works are held in various collections, including the Imperial War Museum London and the Maidstone Museum of Bentlif Art Gallery.
Questions & Answers
How many artworks by John Berry are available to browse?
You can browse 1 artwork by John Berry on the All Artworks page.
How did John Berry's art evolve over time?
John Berry's career unfolds period by period on the artist's Chronicle page: a horizontal timeline of the artworks, grouped into career-period chapters.
How do I find works by John Berry in a specific palette?
To find works by John Berry in a specific palette, use the artist's By Palettes page.
What colors did John Berry use most often?
The Palette Genome of John Berry is a page that presents the color profile of the artist's body of work.
