A Life of Design and Illustration
Laurence Irving was a multifaceted artist whose career spanned the realms of painting, book illustration, and scenography. Born in London, United Kingdom, he received his formal art training at the Byam Shaw School of Art and the Royal Academy School, where he studied under Charles Ricketts and Charles Shannon. While his early artistic pursuits focused on landscape and marine painting, his professional trajectory eventually led him into the world of theatre design and Hollywood art direction.
His diverse body of work includes:
From the Stage to the Screen
Irving's influence extended from the London stage to the golden age of cinema. He contributed to the visual landscape of numerous theatrical productions and transitioned into a successful career as an art director in Hollywood, working on films such as The Iron Mask and The Taming of the Shrew. His work in the film industry also included collaborations on productions like Moonlight Sonata and Pygmalion.
Beyond his visual contributions, Irving was a writer who documented his experiences and family history. His literary output included biographies of his grandfather, Henry Irving, and his own memoirs, Designing for the Movies: the Memoirs of Laurence Irving and Great Interruption: An Autobiography 1938-45.
