Martin Battersby

The Art of Deception

Examining the life and career of a forgotten yet significant artist who influenced not only art and design but was a pioneer of queer art and aesthetics

The first major biography to examine the life and career of Martin Battersby (1914-1982), a forgotten yet significant artist of the twentieth century

A polymath whose career covered numerous disciplines, Martin Battersby worked in many roles including theatre designer, muralist and fine artist, textile and costume designer, interior decorator, and collector and connoisseur of the decorative arts. This book follows his life as the son of a North London pawnbroker who went on to work with many tastemakers of the time including Rex Whistler, Bunny Roger, Arthur Jeffress, Lotte Reiniger, and Cecil Beaton. With limited training and education, Battersby built his own career as an artist, creating artworks for Paul Mellon, Evelyn Waugh, Princes