Ronald Ferns
Encyclopedia
Ronald Ferns was an English
illustrator, designer, cartoonist and surrealist
painter in oil and watercolour.
He attended St Martin’s School of Art
, London, supporting himself by taking commissions to decorate the homes of various London celebrities including Hermione Gingold
. His first major official commission was a vast mural for the 1951 Festival of Britain
, in the Country Pavilion, for the Milk Marketing Board
. In the same year, he was also commissioned to create the acclaimed scenic design for the premiere of Fate’s Revenge by the Ballet Rambert.
Throughout the 1950s, he contributed witty line illustrations, decorations and cartoons to many of the leading periodicals including Lilliput
, for which he also painted several striking covers in colour, Punch
, Picture Post
, Scope, and Good Housekeeping
, for which he drew a regular series entitled "Semolina Silkpaws". He also illustrated a series of full-colour booklets for Guinness
advertising campaigns. Other important advertising work included elegant watercolour covers for Fortnum & Mason
catalogues.
In the early 1960s, he moved with his wife Iris to St Ives
in Cornwall
, so he could diversify from “commercial art
” into painting and other endeavours. As well as developing his noted series of surreal paintings in oil, which were sold through the Portal Gallery in London, he set up, with Iris, an initiative called “Studio 22”. Together, they designed and made ceramic jewellery, art pottery and beach clothes such as kaftan
s.
They moved back to London in the 1970s, where Ronnie continued to paint for the Portal Gallery and provide illustrations for advertising, notably for the Bond Street
fashion emporium, Ports. However, he was increasingly drawn to book illustration. Alongside a successful series in collaboration with the poet Gavin Ewart
– The Learned Hippopotamus (1986), Caterpillar Stew (1990) and Like It Or Not (1992) – he began writing children’s stories as well as illustrating them.
His first book as both writer and artist, Osbert And Lucy (1988), was successful not only in Britain but also in the USA, and was translated into several European languages. It was subsequently included in the 2003 anthology, The Hutchinson Book of Bunny Tales. His second book, Bumpity And the Big Snake, was published in 1994.
He was a charming but self-effacing and very shy gentleman, who delighted in drawing and designing but who had no interest in publicity or self-promotion. Consequently, his name was chiefly known within the publishing and advertising fraternities, where his prodigious skill as a draughtsman, and his unfailing warmth and wit, were much treasured.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
illustrator, designer, cartoonist and surrealist
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
painter in oil and watercolour.
He attended St Martin’s School of Art
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
, London, supporting himself by taking commissions to decorate the homes of various London celebrities including Hermione Gingold
Hermione Gingold
Hermione Gingold was an English actress known for her sharp-tongued, eccentric persona, an image enhanced by her sharp nose and chin, as well as her deepening voice, a result of vocal nodes which her mother reportedly encouraged her not to remove. She starred on stage, on radio, in films, on...
. His first major official commission was a vast mural for the 1951 Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
, in the Country Pavilion, for the Milk Marketing Board
Milk Marketing Board
The Milk Marketing Board was a government agency established in 1933 to control milk production and distribution in the United Kingdom. It functioned as buyer of last resort in the British milk market, thereby guaranteeing a minimum price for milk producers...
. In the same year, he was also commissioned to create the acclaimed scenic design for the premiere of Fate’s Revenge by the Ballet Rambert.
Throughout the 1950s, he contributed witty line illustrations, decorations and cartoons to many of the leading periodicals including Lilliput
Lilliput (magazine)
Lilliput was a small-format British monthly magazine of humour, short stories, photographs and the arts, founded in 1937 by the photojournalist Stefan Lorant. The first issue came out in July and it was sold shortly after to Edward Hulton, when editorship was taken over by Tom Hopkinson in 1940....
, for which he also painted several striking covers in colour, Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
, Picture Post
Picture Post
Picture Post was a prominent photojournalistic magazine published in the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1957. It is considered a pioneering example of photojournalism and was an immediate success, selling 1,700,000 copies a week after only two months...
, Scope, and Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, health as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the...
, for which he drew a regular series entitled "Semolina Silkpaws". He also illustrated a series of full-colour booklets for Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
advertising campaigns. Other important advertising work included elegant watercolour covers for Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason, often shortened to just "Fortnum's" is a department store, situated in central London, with two other branches in Japan. Its headquarters is located at 181 Piccadilly, where it was established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason...
catalogues.
In the early 1960s, he moved with his wife Iris to St Ives
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, so he could diversify from “commercial art
Commercial art
Commercial art is historically a subsector of creative services, referring to art created for commercial purposes, primarily advertising. The term has become increasingly anachronistic in favor of more contemporary terms such as graphic design and advertising art.Commercial art traditionally...
” into painting and other endeavours. As well as developing his noted series of surreal paintings in oil, which were sold through the Portal Gallery in London, he set up, with Iris, an initiative called “Studio 22”. Together, they designed and made ceramic jewellery, art pottery and beach clothes such as kaftan
Kaftan
A kaftan is a man's coat usually reaching to the ankles with long sleeves, and which buttons down the front. It can be made of wool, cashmere, silk, or cotton. It is often worn with a sash....
s.
They moved back to London in the 1970s, where Ronnie continued to paint for the Portal Gallery and provide illustrations for advertising, notably for the Bond Street
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
fashion emporium, Ports. However, he was increasingly drawn to book illustration. Alongside a successful series in collaboration with the poet Gavin Ewart
Gavin Ewart
Gavin Buchanan Ewart was a British poet best known for contributing to Geoffrey Grigson's New Verse at the age of seventeen.-Life:...
– The Learned Hippopotamus (1986), Caterpillar Stew (1990) and Like It Or Not (1992) – he began writing children’s stories as well as illustrating them.
His first book as both writer and artist, Osbert And Lucy (1988), was successful not only in Britain but also in the USA, and was translated into several European languages. It was subsequently included in the 2003 anthology, The Hutchinson Book of Bunny Tales. His second book, Bumpity And the Big Snake, was published in 1994.
He was a charming but self-effacing and very shy gentleman, who delighted in drawing and designing but who had no interest in publicity or self-promotion. Consequently, his name was chiefly known within the publishing and advertising fraternities, where his prodigious skill as a draughtsman, and his unfailing warmth and wit, were much treasured.