B.

Major Major

Behind the scenes

The line between the fine and applied arts is, it hardly needs saying, a blurred one

Here we have a poster designed and drawn by Irvine Major (1922-2000), currently on show at the Canterbury Museum as part of their 'Selling the dream' exhibition of travel posters.

Image

And here's a painting from the Gallery's collection also by Irvine Major:

Irvine Major was born in Christchurch and served in the MIddle East and Italy during the Second World War. From 1949 he lived in Nelson where he was an active member of the Suter Art Society, exhibiting regularly and holding various offices. As the art master at Nelson College he counted Laurence Aberhart and Philip Clairmont among his pupils.

Major was not the first or last artist to combine a fine art practice with commercial commissions - nor to excel at both.