Hans Arnold Rothholz
Hans Arnold Rothholz was born in Germany in 1919, but being aware of the rise of fascism in the 1930’s, and at the age of 14, he fled to England with his mother. As a naturally gifted artist, after leaving school, he went on to study at Willesden Technical College and The Reimann School.
In 1940, while working in Maidstone at his first job as a window display artist, he was detained as an enemy alien, resulting in internment, firstly in Liverpool and Isle of Man, followed by Canada. He returned to London in 1942 and began working as a graphic designer in his own practice.
His first commissions came from the General Post Office Advertising Department followed by more posters for Post Office vans, counters, and telephone boxes. He also designed many posters for Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and London Transport.
Arnold married in 1943 and had a studio in Richmond and then in north London during which time he designed the 1948 Wembley Olympics programme and subsequently numerous other sporting posters for Wembley Stadium as well as working on the Dome of Discovery at the 1951 Festival of Britain.
He also worked for Lyons Corner House producing graphics and an 80ft long cast mural for the Marble Arch restaurant. Arnold designed film posters for some Ealing Studios films as well as designing and producing the check-in counter for El Al airlines at Heathrow airport. He was also retained to produce house styles for Windsor & Newton and The Wellcome Foundation amongst others.
He died in 2000 and his archive is held at The Design Archives in Brighton.