• Reference
    • GB 1178 RED
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1950-2000
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 4.42 linear metres

Scope and Content

The majority of the material in the archive consists of developmental proof prints, artist’s proofs and limited edition prints of work by Peter Reddick, made either for book illustrations or as separate pieces. Particularly well represented are his illustrations for the Folio Society editions of the work of Thomas Hardy and Anthony Trollope.

Research potential

The archive could inform: the study of British print making, with particular emphasis on wood engraving from the mid twentieth century to date with particular emphasis on landscape illustration; book illustration with particular emphasis on the illustration of the works of Thomas Hardy and Anthony Trollope.

Administrative / Biographical History

Peter Reddick was born in Upminster, Essex, in 1924. Both his parents were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and he too joined the Society at 16. He registered as a conscientious objector in 1942 and spent the War doing land work. He trained at: South East Essex Technical College and School of Art 1941-1942; Guildford School of Art 1946-1947; Cardiff School of Art 1947-1948; Slade School of Fine Art, London 1948-1951; London College of Printing 1959 - 1960. Between 1963 and 1967 he was a Lecturer at Glasgow School of Art and then held the post of Senior Lecturer at Bristol Polytechnic between 1967 and 1989.

He has described his influences as a student as being the English Romantic engravers and the work of Blair Hughes Stanton, Gertrude Hermes, Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious and his early work as being romantic ruralist.

On leaving college he sought employment as a book illustrator but was unable to make a living. The work he did find was teaching lithography, lettering, calligraphy and, later, typography at Regent Street Polytechnic, London (1951-1957). Also, commissions for brush-drawn lettered book jacket from Jonathan Cape, London, and freelance and studio based design work. In 1958 Peter Reddick caught Poliomyelitis (Polio) which dictated that he concentrate on work as a typographer and designer.

In 1960 Peter Reddick and his wife and their three children left England for Kumasi in Ghana where Peter Reddick took up a post as Lecturer in Commercial Design at Kumasi College of Science and Technology. Whilst in Ghana, Reddick made some wood engravings of Ghanaian scenery and characters that appeared in the journal Motif, no. 7, Summer, 1961. He was also commissioned to design covers for number of Penguin Book editions of the novels of Daphne du Maurier.

In 1962 Peter Reddick returned to England and from 1963 to 1967 he taught design at the Glasgow School of Art. From 1967until 1989 he taught illustration in the Department of Graphic Design at the West of England College of Art (later Bristol Polytechnic).

During his period as a teacher Peter Reddick has also illustrated books for the Folio Society (particularly the work of Thomas Hardy and Anthony Trollope), Gregynog Press, Limited Editions Club, New York, Readers Digest amongst other publishers. He also makes water-colours and coloured woodcuts.

Peter Reddick was a founder member of Bristol Artspace and is Chairman of the Spike Island Printmakers workshop, Bristol. He exhibits with the Royal West of England Academy and the Society of Wood Engravers. He was made Gregynog Arts Fellow between 1979 and 1980.

Arrangement

The material in the archive had been arranged and listed in the repository when it was first deposited. It is not clear to what extent this reflected original order. The cataloguing archivist had no reason to change this arrangement of the material within individual files but has established the current series and arranged the files in chronological order within those series.

The series are arranged as follows:

  • RED/1 Correspondence
  • RED/2 Book illustration
  • RED/3 Non book illustration
  • RED/4 Prints

Access Information

Access is by appointment only. Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections at the Sir Kenneth Green Library are open from 10.00am - 4.00pm, Monday - Friday. Please contact: The Special Collections Archivist, Manchester Metropolitan University, Sir Kenneth Green Library, All Saints, Manchester, M15 6BH; tel: +44 (0)161 - 247 6159; e-mail: library-archives@mmu.ac.uk.

Acquisition Information

The archive was acquired from the creator in a number of deposits the first of which was made in 1993.

Other Finding Aids

Full catalogue available in the reading room, Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright remains with Peter Reddick.

Correspondence copyright rests with the author. Photocopies and photographic copies of material in the archive can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents. All items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright for purposes other than research or private study.

Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Special Collections Archivist.

Custodial History

The material has remained with the creator until it was transferred to its current repository.

Accruals

The creator of the archive continues to make periodic deposits of archival material to the repository.

Related Material

See also the Book Design collection also at Manchester Metropolitan University Library for books illustrated by Peter Reddick.

Bibliography

Rogerson, Ian, Peter Reddick: Draughtsman, wood engraver, illustrator, (Manchester: Manchester Metropolitan University Library, 1994).

Rogerson, Ian, Moods and Tenses: the Portraits and Characters of Peter Reddick, (Denby Dale, Huddersfield: Fleece Press, 1999).

Corporate Names