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James Lucas

British illustrator and teacher, affiliated with the Communist Party of Great Britain

Artist Illustrator Art educator
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About James Lucas

James Lucas was a British artist, illustrator, art educator and teacher.

James Edward Lucas (born 20 December 1903) was a British illustrator and teacher, affiliated with the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).

Lucas was born in Rugby, the son of Joseph Lucas, an engine driver, and Anne Marie Sail. His father died in 1906 and his mother remarried William Skipworth. Electrical engineer George Sail Campbell Lucas was his elder brother.

Lucas did not sign much of his work, making attribution difficult. Phyllis Ladyman, his wife and also an illustrator, oversaw its embroidering. The banner's poles had metal finials by the sculptor Betty Rea. It was presented to the battalion by Harry Pollitt at Christmas 1937. When that banner was captured, he designed its replacement. The replacement banner was shown as part of the Conscience and Conflict: British Artists and the Spanish Civil War exhibition at the Pallant House Gallery in 2015.

He is also known for his engraving for the cover of early editions of The Country Standard. He illustrated a 1947 edition of Ronald M. Lockley's I Know an Island.

He taught at Plymouth, where one of his pupils was Reg Turner, another CPGB affiliate.

Dave Cope recalled him as "modest" and the "most political" among his artistic CPGB peers.

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Important facts

Family & relationships

Spouse
Phyllis Ladyman

Frequently asked questions

Who was James Lucas?

British illustrator and teacher, affiliated with the Communist Party of Great Britain

What was James Lucas's occupation?

James Lucas was an artist, illustrator, art educator and teacher.

What nationality was James Lucas?

James Lucas was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: James Lucas

· Wikidata: Q60523543

· DBpedia: James Lucas (illustrator)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Lucas. https://biography.guide/james-lucas-artist/

MLA: "James Lucas." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-lucas-artist/.

Chicago: "James Lucas." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-lucas-artist/.

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