Anthony Wood

Anthony Wood, FSHA, FSSI (5 October 1925 – 16 February 2022) was a British heraldic artist and a master of heraldry.

Biography Wood was born in the Edgbaston district of Birmingham on 5 October 1925. In 1943, Wood graduated from Oundle School. From 1943 to 1945 he continued his education at the Birmingham College of Art. After graduation he trained as a professional calligrapher, illuminator and heraldic artist. He painted heraldry for various Officers at the College of Arms for many years.

From 1965 to 1986 Wood taught the subjects at Ealing Art College and Wimbledon Schools of Art. In 1968, he founded a full-time three-year Diploma course in calligraphy, heraldry, and manuscript illumination at the Reigate School of Art and Design. For many years it was the only course of its type in the world. Wood directed it as a Senior Lecturer for 19 years until 1987. He has been responsible for the training of many professional heraldic artists who achieved mastery in the profession. In August 1996, he attended the 22nd International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, as an artist delegate by invitation of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Congress, for the first time held outside of Europe, was considered to be a "historic meeting" for scientists and artists pursuing Heraldry in Modern Times.

Publications Wood is a co-author of A European Armorial.

Samples of his art were included in The Art of Heraldry by Carl-Alexander von Volborth, published in 1987.

A Dictionary of Heraldry (1987) —edited by Stephan Friar and illustrated by Anthony Wood along with John Ferguson (artist), became highly recommended as an introduction to heraldry. The Arms of the Lord Francis Lovel and The Arms of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers painted by Wood were reproduced distinctively on front and back covers of the volume.

Wood wrote numerous articles on heraldic art and craft. He contributed an essay entitled "The Art of Heraldry" and a painting of John Brooke-Little's coat of arms to the book Tribute to an Armourist, published in 2000 by The Heraldry Society in London, to commemorate Brooke-Little's lifelong service.

In 1996, Wood published a book titled Heraldic Art and Design.

Distinctions and other work In 1995, Wood was made a Freeman of the City of London. From 1980 to 1982 and from 1983 to 1984, he was Master of the Worshipful Company of Bowyers (longbow makers) of London, which is one of the Medieval Craft Guilds of the city.