Dora M Batty posters
Introduction
Dora Batty (1891-1966) was one of the most prolific female artists commissioned by the Underground and London Transport to design posters. She produced most of her designs in the 1920s and 1930s, using a wide range of techniques highlighting her versatility as a designer.
In addition to transport posters, Batty also worked on book illustrations, advertisements, textiles and ceramics. From 1932 she taught in the textiles department at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and became Head of School in 1950. She retired in 1958.
These posters are the subject of our latest poster parade – see it in the Museum now, or get a preview below, including some additional objects you won’t find on display!
An eclectic designer
Batty created over 50 posters for Underground and London Transport, in a variety of different styles.
The dynamic flight of a Royal Air Force display over Colindale station, elegantly depicted in modern Art Deco lines, has become one of Batty’s more famous posters. Her vibrant poster of pink foxgloves won recognition early on and was selected for the Design and Industries Association’s Yearbook in 1924.
Poster series
Batty created many poster series, with the core aim of promoting travel in and out of the capital. This solution allowed her to explore a topic in greater detail.
Below are a few panel posters of the ‘Survivals of the Past’ series. In this body of work, Batty illustrated key figures that had become synonymous with cultural sites in London. In the three-part series ‘By Underground’, Batty examined different uses and users of this mode of transport. Her interest in textiles is evident across all these posters, in the detailed renditions of uniforms and fashionable clothes of the time.
Customisation
Bank holidays are a time for travelling, with companies often running special services. During these busy times, visual cohesion can further aid travellers.
Many London Transport informational posters created for the Easter period in 1933 featured the same illustration by Batty. Her clever design for General buses used stickers to provide information about different routes in an economical and visually unified way.
Her artwork for the Whitsuntide poster, made in 1931, allowed for easy text changes. In the London Transport Museum collection there are three different versions of this poster, urging people to enjoy the holiday by Tram, Green Line Coaches or by Underground.
Nature's delights
Although Batty explored many themes in her posters, nature featured prominently in her creations. Batty encouraged the public to travel to the countryside and across London to enjoy seasonal delights like berry picking and flower shows. Her botanical illustrations also ran as newspaper advertisements for the Underground in 1928.
