Frederick Gregory Brown
F. Gregory Brown (1887–1941) was a prominent British graphic designer known for his striking colour-blocked posters created during the early 20th century. He worked extensively for London Transport and other institutions, blending Art Nouveau and early Modernist styles with bold typography and decorative detail. Brown believed posters should serve a purpose, not pose as ‘art’ - but for us the label doesn’t matter - his work is unique and beautiful.
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Frederic Gregory Brown was born in London in 1887 into an artistic household - his father, John Terrell Brown, was an art master, which gave Gregory early exposure to the world of craft and design.
He initially trained as a metalworker, producing decorative pieces before gradually transitioning into illustration and poster design. His background in the applied arts gave his later graphic work a strong sense of structure and craftsmanship. In 1915, he became a founding member of the Design and Industries Association, a group dedicated to improving British industrial design through collaboration between artists and manufacturers.
Brown’s breakthrough came around 1914–1915, when he began designing posters for London Underground. Over the next 25 years, he created more than 60 posters, helping to shape the visual identity of public transport in Britain. His work stood out for its flat planes of colour, stylised compositions, and a lyrical approach to everyday scenes - from garden suburbs to countryside escapes.
While he resisted the label of ‘fine art’, his work was highly respected, earning him international accolades, including a Gold Medal at the 1925 Paris Exhibition of Decorative Arts. Beyond posters, he also designed textiles, illustrated books, and exhibited paintings, maintaining a career that moved fluidly between commercial design and artistic expression.
