Rigby Graham

RIGBY GRAHAM AND THE PRIVATE PRESS IN LEICESTERSHIRE

Rigby Graham is a painter and graphic artist who has been at the centre of the private press movement in Leicestershire for many years.

Rigby Graham: Leicester 1979

Count Potocki of Montalk by Rigby Graham' hand-coloured woodcut; Parenthesis November 2006

Rigby Graham was born in Stretford on the outskirts of Manchester, in 1931, but his family moved first to London and then to Leicester. He attended Leicester College of Art from 1947 until 1954, where he specialised in mural painting. His career started with a period of teaching in Leicestershire schools. Rigby then became a lecturer at Leicester College of Art where he taught Graphic Design and Printing. Following this he became a lecturer Education in Leicester. He was already heavily involved with the production of the private press book from the 1950’s. More recently he lectured in Bookbinding; he promoted simplified styles of binding. He retired from teaching in 1983.
His achievements were recognised when the University of Leicester awarded him an honorary Doctorate in July 2008. In 2010 Dr. Rigby Graham was awarded the MBE for Services to the Arts in the Birthday Honours.