Osbert Lancaster (1908–1986). British cartoonist, illustrator, theatre designer, architectural historian and author

Osbert Lancaster studied at art colleges in Oxford and London, and from 1939 until 1981 contributed thousands of cartoons to the Daily Express newspaper, which featured his best-known creation, Maudie Littlehampton. From the mid-1930s, Lancaster contributed to The Architectural Review and published a series of books on architecture. He also worked extensively for the stage, with many of his best ballet designs still performed today. These include John Cranko’s Pineapple Poll for Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet, Ninette de Valois’ production of Coppélia for Sadler’s Wells Ballet, and Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée for The Royal Ballet. During the 1950s and 1960s Lancaster also designed Act III of August Bournonville’s Napoli for London Festival Ballet, as well as a number of operas for Glyndebourne Festival Opera