William Ridgewell biography

William Leigh Ridgewell (8 September 1881 - 1937; born Brighton, UK)

William Ridgewell was born in Brighton and studied at Brighton's School of Art. He worked as a lithographer, illustrator and comic strip cartoonist. His first drawings were published, as postcards, when he was 17.

Initially a commercial artist, Ridgewell "got into the habit of thinking humorously" during active service in India during the First World War (Bryant and Heneage, 1994). He began submitting cartoons to Punch after the war.

Stationed in India during World War I he drew posters for the Indian War Loan and contributed cartoons and sketches to The Looker-On and Indian Ink.

Upon his return to Britain, Ridgewell worked for Tit-Bits, Bystander, Punch and Passing Show. He drew advertisements for many diverse companies, including Stone's Ginger Wine and Pratt's Petrol.

He died in Sevenoaks, Kent, UK in late 1937.
Source: Illustration Art Gallery

See WILLIAM RIDGEWELL ART ('page not found' if no art currently listed).