Claud Lovat Fraser was a British artist, designer, and poet whose brief but brilliant life left a distinct mark on early 20th-century visual culture.
Known for his whimsical flair and stylised charm, Fraser moved freely between fine art and commercial design, stage sets and book illustration, always infusing his work with a lively theatricality and a modern eye for tradition.
Born in London in 1890, Fraser initially trained as a barrister but quickly abandoned law for the more colourful world of the arts. He became associated with literary and artistic circles, collaborating with poets such as Siegfried Sassoon and contributing designs to small presses like the Poetry Bookshop.
A key figure in the resurgence of English woodcut-style illustration, his work echoed the spirit of William Blake and the bold lines of the Arts and Crafts movement - yet always with a playful, contemporary twist.
Fraser served in the WWI and the experience left an indelible imprint on his art. After returning, he turned increasingly to theatre design, creating fantastical sets and costumes for productions like As You Like It and The Beggar’s Opera, where his love for historical motifs met the vibrant pulse of modern performance.
His designs, often featuring flat, bright colours and elegant linework, had a folkloric simplicity that made them instantly recognisable - part Edwardian nostalgia, part avant-garde spirit. Whether illustrating nursery rhymes or crafting stage worlds, Fraser approached every project with a storyteller’s heart. Tragically, he died in 1921 at just 31 years old, his life cut short by complications from war-related illness.
