Leslie James Gardner CBE, RDI, FRCA, 1907-1995

James Gardner (1907-1995) was one of Britain's most important post-war exhibition and museum designers.

Leaving Westminster School of Art in 1923, he began his career working for Cartier the jewellers of Bond Street, London. Throughout the 1930s, Gardner travelled abroad and on his return to London was employed by the commercial design consultancy Carlton Studios. He went on to produce advertising designs for a variety of commercial companies, including commissions for Jack Beddington, art director at Shell. During the Second World War Gardner was attached to the Army Camouflage Unit (Royal Engineers) and was employed as an illustrator by the Ministry of Information. He was responsible for a range of deception projects including inflatable decoy tanks and landing craft. He also designed three children's books in the Puffin Picture Book series published by Penguin.

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