Artist Info
John R. Biggs
Born in Derby in 1909, John Biggs studied art at the Derby School of Art (1929-31) where he first became interested in printing. He taught himself to wood engrave from Douglas Percy Bliss's 'Wood-Engraving' (published by Dryad Handicrafts, from where he obtained tools). His first wood engraving, 'Roadmen', was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1931. At the Central School of Arts & Crafts (1931-33) his teachers included Noel Rooke, Bernard Meninsky, J. H. Mason, and John Skeaping. He also came under the influence of Douglas Cockerell and A. McLeish in the book binding department. Between 1929 and 1945 Biggs issued a small series of books from his own hand press in Derby, the Hampden Press, all designed, printed, and sometimes written and illustrated by himself. Among those books is a book of his poems, 'Sinfin Songs and Other Poems', which he printed while at the Central. In the 1930s Biggs worked as a designer and illustrator for the Baynard Press and as a free-lance artist for individuals, advertising agencies and companies such as the Orient Line. He also illustrated for John Masters's private press in Shaftsbury, the High House Press.
In 1938 he was commissioned by Robert Gibbings to illustrate the Penguin Illustrated Classics edition of Robinson Crusoe with wood engravings and he later designed the covers for the first King Penguins. He was art editor of the SCM Press between 1943 and 1949, for which he did typography, book jackets and some engravings. He later became the production manager of Country Life Books (1949-50). Throughout his career he wrote a number of books on wood engraving, illustration, type, and lettering.
During the war he was the first lecturer in design at the London School of Printing (1939-46). From 1946-48 Biggs taught typography and layout at the Central School, followed by a period as Vice-Principal at the Norwich School of Art (1949-53). He held other teaching posts at Gravesend, Beckenham, Chelsea and also at the Wimbledon School of Art. From 1951, until his retirement in 1974, he was Head of the Graphic Design Department at Brighton Polytechnic.
Biggs travelled widely, particularly in Russia, where a British Council grant enabled him to study the Cyrillic alphabet. His wood engravings were exhibited in Moscow, Leningrad, and Tashkent. He ran a course in Book Production for the Ministry of Education, Jamaica, and from 1977-78 was Training Adviser to the Government Printer, Hong Kong. In 1982 he was elected a Master of the Art-Workers’ Guild.
For books by or about this maker see the TALIS catalogue.
Author: JS
