Roland Davies: Artist, Commercial artist, Comic book illustrator (1904 - 1993)
Roland Davies had a truly amazing career, first as a highly successful commercial artist and comic book illustrator, then as a serious artist in the 1970s after he had officially "retired". All his work is now very sought after and collectable, a fact which is reflected in high prices at auction, ranging from about £400 to nearly £4,000.
Roland Davies (full name Roland Oxford Davies) was born at Stourport in Worcestershire in 1904. He received his first artistic training at Ipswich School of Art. His first job was as an apprentice lithographer where his assignments included designing cinema and railway posters. His first freelance work was for motor-related magazines such as Autocar and Motor Cycle, which was in accord with Roland’s own keen interest in speed. When a new boy’s weekly, Modern Boy, was launched in 1928 Roland was among the recruits engaged to design the action-filled front covers. He later moved on to comics, especially the Beano. It was in comics illustration that his first artistic career really took off. During the Second World War he worked for the Ministry of Information on books and posters for propaganda, information and morale boosting purposes. In 1970, Roland Davies left the comics field and although officially retired, embarked on a highly successful new career, devoting his attention to painting, creating wonderful images of speed, whether aircraft, motorbikes or automobiles, as well more tranquil and nostalgic London street scenes, and even marine and cowboy pictures. He died in 1993. Click this link for Roland Davies' extended biography by Gordon Howsden - Roland Davies obituary (The Independent 1993).
There is also a page and extended biography of Roland Davies in the National Archives:
Roland Davies in the National Archives
Roland Davies Google Gallery