Roger Hall

Hall's cover for the Pan edition of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale, 1955. The first depiction of James Bond on a book cover. Roger Hall (26 December 1914 – 9 December 2006) was a British artist who began his career painting publicity images for front of house displays in cinemas but later became a noted book illustrator and created the first depiction of James Bond on a book cover.

Early life Roger Hall [birth name Henry Walter Hall, but known as Roger] was born at St Barts Hospital, London, on 26 December 1914, and brought up in Islington. His father was a stoker at Wimbledon Power Station.

Early career Hall began his career aged 15 painting front of house displays for cinemas for the London Art Service. He progressed quickly and was eventually able to paint up to 20 portrait panels per week. By this time he felt he was due a pay rise but after the firm prevaricated, he moved to Art Display Services in Shaftesbury Avenue who produced hand-painted cut-out cinema foyer displays.

In 1955, he painted the cover for the Pan paperback edition of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale, which was the first James Bond paperback and the first depiction of Bond on a book cover.

Other work In 1952 or 1953, he painted his Portrait of Sir John Barbirolli which was later given to the Royal Academy of Music by Lady Barbirolli. In the 1960s he produced up to 12 film posters for Geoff Wright before handing the work on to Sam Peffer in 1971.

Personal life Hall lived in Santers Lane, Potter's Bar, in the 1960s. He had a wife, Florence, who was known as Sue. He also had a daughter, Cherry. In 1986, he moved to Spain where he held three exhibitions, but returned to England in 2003 where he settled in Gloucestershire and continued to paint. He died in Tetbury on 9 December 2006.