Back in vogue: reclusive fashion artist Anthony Gilbert remembered in London Fashion Week exhibition

The work by Anthony Gilbert will be shown at Cork Street art dealers Messum’s in Mayfair

Muse: Gilbert's wife often appeared in his work, and is seen here in a piece called Red-Striped Sleeves

Robert Dex @RobDexES10 September 2015

Dozens of sketches drawn by a reclusive illustrator who worked for some of the country’s leading fashion magazines are going on show in a new exhibition.

The work by Anthony Gilbert will be shown at Cork Street art dealers Messum’s in Mayfair to mark London Fashion Week, which runs from September 18 to 22.

Gilbert, who died in 1995, designed murals for the post-war Festival of Britain and worked in advertising for many years. He designed posters for London Transport, among others.

However, in 1969 he left the world of advertising and became increasingly reclusive. He rarely left his home in Kent and instead sent his wife Ann to pick up dresses from fashion editors who wanted his work for magazines including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

Talent: Anthony Gilbert drew his wife Ann for illustrations

Messum’s director Andrea Gates said the show was in some ways a tribute to Ann, who would collect the dresses and model them for Gilbert while he sketched.

She said: “Nine times out of 10 the woman you are seeing in the picture is some permutation of Ann. She’d go to London, pick up the clothes from fashion editors and bring them back, model them for Anthony, then take them and the illustrations back to the magazines.”

The show runs at Messum’s Cork Street Gallery from September 14 to 25.

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