Margaret Calkin James

As Margaret Calkin she studied at the Central School from 1913 to 1915 (specialising in calligraphy). She won the Queen's Scholarship for her calligraphy in 1915. She also studied at the Westminster School of Art. In 1920 she set up the Rainbow Workshop in what had been the Art Department of the Central YMCA London during the War and of which she had been Head.. From her marriage in 1922 she designed in a studio at her home. A prolific calligrapher, designer and artist, her clients included London Transport (posters), Jonathan Cape (book jackets), the Curwen Press (pattern papers), the BBC (programmes and booklets) and the GPO, for whom in 1935 she designed the first Greetings Telegram. For her own home in 1936 she designed and cut all the lino blocks and printed textiles from them for their new house 'Hornbeams' designed by her husband C.H.James. In 1998 a collection of these designs were reproduced commercially by' Borderline'.
Author: SB

Margaret Calkin James (1895 – 1985) studied at the Central School from 1913 to 1915, winning a scholarship in her final year to continue her studies at Westminster College. A graphic designer, textile printer, calligrapher and artist, Margaret was a prolific creative force during the first and second world wars. Examples of her work are held in the Victoria and Albert Museum. A book of Margaret's work, 'At the Sign of the Rainbow' was published in 1996. The Royal Tournament poster was commissioned by London Underground from the Central School, and uses an orderly repeated pattern technique which was a signature style of Margaret's work, also seen in her textile prints.
Author: Ruth Sykes-2016