The original poster boy

From the mauve sky of Waterloo Sunset to the pastoral Arcadia of rolling fields in God’s Own Country, Stephen Millership’s evocative travel scenes capture Great Britain’s soul. Andrew Liddle meets the man behind the art

- Andrew Liddle

FOR those in search of England, its spirit, heart and character, there is probably no better visual inspiration than the series of travel posters created by graphic artist Stephen Millership. They stop you in your tracks, stand out as genuine objects of art, identifiably the work of one hand, the product of one vision. You encounter them everywhere—in National Trust properties, gift shops and institutions such as the London Transport Museum, the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, and the National Museum of Scotland.

Mr Millership’s vibrant prints capture the countryside, the coast, historic towns and scenes from London. It’s difficult to believe that in less than a decade he has created such an extensive gallery of iconic places— currently standing at more than 200. He has a particular talent for portraying the capital’s landmarks—such as Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London—at their most glorious. Perhaps most poignant is Waterloo Sunset, a mauve twilight suffusing an orange sky over peaceful Waterloo Bridge, with the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Ministry of Defence, Whitehall and Charing Cross Station on the skyline. It’s simply striking, in a mellow way. Up river, there’s the home of Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace, in a vermilion glow. Is that Anne Boleyn, perhaps, at the gate in Tudor attire?

Beautifully simple, yet profoundly compelling, with more than a hint of symbolism and Art Deco references, Mr Millership’s work seems to define the country, drawing out its soul. His most famous print, simply entitled