Sir Osbert Lancaster (1908 - 1986)

RA Collection: People and Organisations

Sir Osbert Lancaster (1908-1986) was a British cartoonist, architectural historian, stage designer and author. He was educated at Charterhouse School and Lincoln College Oxford, at both of which he was an undistinguished scholar. Whilst working as a contributor to The Architectural Review in the mid-1930s, Lancaster published a series of books on architecture which aimed to amuse the reader and demystify the subject. He then went on to produce topical cartoons for the Daily Express, becoming notable for creating the character Maudie Littlehampton and “the pocket cartoon”. He also designed costumes and scenery for theatre productions.