CHARLIE HIGHMAN | Spike Woods

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Charlie Highman

Guard. Gouache.Charlie Highman.

Guard. Gouache.Charlie Highman.

Red Wizard?

Red Wizard?

That newfangled invention - the bicycle.

That newfangled invention - the bicycle.

My grandfather produced lots more beautiful work through the Art Nouveau era. It’s such a shame he was killed in France in the Great War....

Supports what?

Supports what?

Croak joke . . .

Croak joke . . .

Moustaches must have been a problem!

Moustaches must have been a problem!

Yet one more …

Yet one more …

Another fine rough, so expressive.

Another fine rough, so expressive.

I love the looseness of the use of medium. Very modern in its way . . .

I love the looseness of the use of medium. Very modern in its way . . .

And he did it very well, my grandpa.

And he did it very well, my grandpa.

Rough sketches for commercial projects.

Rough sketches for commercial projects.

Another biscuit tin?

Another biscuit tin?

Rough for a biscuit tin, perhaps.

Rough for a biscuit tin, perhaps.

Before the modern day Santa Claus had a red suit, he wore a green one.

Before the modern day Santa Claus had a red suit, he wore a green one.

An illuminated quote, 1902.

An illuminated quote, 1902.

Rough sketches for Colman’s mustard. Commercial work.

Rough sketches for Colman’s mustard. Commercial work.

Domestic bliss!

Domestic bliss!

Lady with parasol. A social comment on the new style dresses.

Lady with parasol. A social comment on the new style dresses.

Rough for a biscuit tin, I should think. Charlie worked in the design studios at Peak-Frean biscuits

Rough for a biscuit tin, I should think. Charlie worked in the design studios at Peak-Frean biscuits

Poster rough design, I should think. Very evocative of the time.

Poster rough design, I should think. Very evocative of the time.

Frederick William Highman, Charlie’s father, my great grandfather.

Frederick William Highman, Charlie’s father, my great grandfather.

Charlie making fun of himself.

Charlie making fun of himself.

He looks like a drunken bell-boy. No idea what it’s for …

He looks like a drunken bell-boy. No idea what it’s for …

A topical cartoon of 1899.

A topical cartoon of 1899.

A quick humorous drawing from 1900.

A quick humorous drawing from 1900.

A Christmas card for 1901 by Charlie.

A Christmas card for 1901 by Charlie.

Another book illustration in pen and ink.

Another book illustration in pen and ink.

One of his decorative book illustrations.

One of his decorative book illustrations.

Specimen

Specimen

Here’s two more of his samplers. He was a master of freehand lettering.

Here’s two more of his samplers. He was a master of freehand lettering.

My grandfather, Charles Frederick Highman’s work specimen. C 1900.

My grandfather, Charles Frederick Highman’s work specimen. C 1900.

He was blind in one eye, and was killed in the First World War.

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