Our website is still in an early stage of development and we will be adding to it as and when time permits.
Since the launch of this website, we have been able to arrange two exxhibitions of Percy Smith's works, one at Forty Hall, Enfield, the other at Burgh House, Hampstead. We continue to seek new exhibition opportunities and suggestions or enquiries are very welcome.
In these exhibitions we have been able to show a range of his work and many people have commented on the high quality and variety of his workmanship.
The Percy Smith Foundation
exists to promote the work of Percy Smith RDI. Born in 1882, Percy Smith studied lettering and
calligraphy at the Camberwell College of Arts & Crafts under Edward
Johnson. Already interested in drawing
and painting, he set up the Dorian Workshop & Studio, later to become the
Dorno Workshop & Studio.
Throughout his working life he undertook many and varied
lettering assignments and design work for public buildings, commercial sign
writing, posters, woodcuts, books, awards and other manuscripts and
memorials. He was visiting consultant to Heinemann on typography and
book design and specialised also in ‘marks and devices, especially for printers
and publishers; designs for printers’ flowers and ornaments; publishers’ cases’.
The lettering project for the Canadian War Memorial to
commemorate 11.285 soldiers missing in action during the battles at Vimy Ridge
was undoubtedly his largest job and occupied his workshop between 1930-1934.
Apart from his commercial work, he was an avid sketcher
and became a highly talented exponent of the art of etching. He continued painting and sketching
throughout the rest of his life, but always maintaining a devoted interest in
lettering in all its various forms.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1930,
a member of the Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry (RDI) in 1940, Master
of the Art Workers Guild in 1941 and elected Master of the Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry
between 1943-1945.
In addition to these prestigious achievements, he was also
a member and / or founder member of a number of organisations, including the
Society of Calligraphers, the Arts Club, The First Editions Club and the Double
Crown Club.
