Angus McBride dies

Angus McBride, who died on 15 May 2007 aged 76, was one of Look and Learn‘s most prolific and respected artists, usually working in colour, his work taking in most of the regular series: ‘From Then Till Now’, rear cover features (‘Famous Rivers’), illustrations for serial stories (‘Smith, Pickpocket’) and features (‘Mankind in the Making’, ‘How the News Broke’, ‘Great Events in the World’s History’, etc.). His work, often signed ‘McB’ also appeared in The Bible Story and World of Wonder. McBride was born in London. Of Scottish ancestry, he was orphaned at an early age and his education somewhat unhappy until he began attending the Canterbury Cathedral Choir School where he gained a lifelong appreciation for music and taught himself illustration.

At the age of 16 he joined an advertising agency, his career interrupted by National Service two years later. He subsequently emigrated to South Africa where he was to work for the next ten years. McBride returned to England in 1961 and freelanced for various magazines. He specialised in historical illustrations; an early interest in folklore and mythology also meant he worked widely as a fantasy artist, producing illustrations for, amongst other things, Lord of the Rings. In the 1970s he began producing illustrations for Osprey, who specialise in military books, and over a period of three decades produced over 90 titles. Married to a South African, McBride lived for many years in Cape Town. Towards the end of his life he moved to Ireland where he continued to paint. His work was celebrated in the volume Warriors and Warlords: The Art of Angus McBride (2002).

Over 500 pictures by Angus McBride can be seen in the Look and Learn online picture library.