Harry Eccleston

Harry Norman Eccleston
Born	(1923-01-21) 21 January 1923 Coseley, Staffordshire, England
Died	30 April 2010(2010-04-30) (aged 87)
Occupation(s)	Artist, engraver, banknote designer
Years active	1939–1983
Known for	First full-time artist and designer of banknotes for the Bank of England
Notable work	Design of the "D" series British banknotes

Harry Norman Eccleston, OBE (21 January 1923 – 30 April 2010), was a distinguished English artist originating from Coseley, Staffordshire (currently part of the West Midlands). He holds the distinction of being the Bank of England's inaugural full-time artist and designer of banknotes.

Artist

Eccleston's artistic education began at Bilston School of Art and continued at Birmingham College of Art in 1939. Following his service in the Royal Navy during World War II, he further honed his skills at the Royal College of Art. Though he lived primarily in London, his work consistently reflected his deep connection to the Black Country, capturing its industrial scenes through paintings and etchings. His meticulous and precise drawing approach earned him acclaim as one of the preeminent engravers of his era.

Banknote design

In 1958, Eccleston joined the Bank of England as its first resident artist-designer. He was responsible for designing the "D" series of British banknotes, notable for being the first to incorporate pictorial imagery. Released in 1970 and circulated until 1981, these notes featured portraits of Queen Elizabeth II alongside prominent historical figures such as Isaac Newton on the £1 note, the Duke of Wellington on £5, Florence Nightingale on £10, William Shakespeare on £20, and Christopher Wren on £50. Eccleston concluded his career with the Bank in 1983.

Recognition

In recognition of his contributions, he was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1979. The University of Wolverhampton awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Arts in 2003 for his achievements in banknote design and printmaking. Additionally, he was elected to membership in the Royal West of England Academy and granted Honorary Membership by the RBSA.

Art works

Public institutions including the Black Country Living Museum and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery hold collections featuring Harry Eccleston's artwork.