See what one or Toucan do for you...

Guinness is surely known as much for the quality of it's advertising as the quality of it's beer (controversial, I know!)

It all started back in the 1930's in a bid to halt the decline in sales, the brewers engaged advertising agency S H Benson and this strategy continues through the iconic 1980's TV ads to the present day.

There is a fascinating talk coming up at St Brides about the lost artwork from this most important period in the 1930's and 40's. The artist who has become synonymous with the Guinness advertising from this era is John Gilroy who painted illustrations of the toucans, zoo keeper and animals from the 1930s onwards. In 1971 all the original paintings belonging to S H Benson (who commissioned the work) were lost. 40 years on and the collection has resurfaced...

David Hughes is a former brewer at Guinness and has written a book "Gilroy was good for Guinness". Now the collection has resurfaced it is starting to be sold off in the USA through the art market. This is a chance to hear about the history and creation of the artworks and see much of the work that was never used ..not forgetting that Guinness was one of the first Global brands.

This talk will showcase the lost art, much of which is never previously seen work from rejected campaigns and some outstanding images have come to light.

The talk is on Tuesday 4 March 2014 at 7pm.

Don't put it off - book a ticket now - Tickets £15.00 • Friends of St Bride Library £12.50 • Students (bring NUS card) £10.00

www.stbride.org/events/oilpaintingstoadvertising
www.gilroywasgoodforguinness.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gilroy-Good-Guinness-David-Hughes/dp/1907593993

Posted by Justin Hobson 20.02.2014