Errol Lloyd
Errol Lloyd (born 1943) is a Jamaican-born artist, writer, art critic, editor and arts administrator. Since the 1960s he has been based in London, UK, where he studied law. He joined the Caribbean Artists at its inception in 1966, and exhibited his paintings and sculpture. The latter included commissioned busts of prominent West Indians, including CLR James, writer and political, Sir Alexander Bustamante, Prime Minister of Jamaica, Garfield Sobers, cricketer, Lord Pitt, politician, John LaRose, poet and publisher and Linton Kwesi Johnson.
Now well known as a book illustrator, he was Highly Commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1973 for his work on My Brother Sean by Petronella Breinburg. He also produced book jackets, greetings cards and other material for the pioneering black-owned publishing companies in London, New Beacon Books, Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications, and Allison and Busby.
His children picture books for mainstream publishers such as Random House, Penguin Books and Oxford University Press went into several foreign editions and a couple were on the national curriculum. His 1995 novel for teenagers, was runner up for the Carnegie Medal. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including American publication, Artists of the Page, based on interviews by Ken and Sylvia Marantz of twenty four British children’s book writers and illustrators.
Lloyd for some years had an association with the Minorities’ Arts Advisory Service (MAAS), and was Art Editor for their inter-cultural magazine, Artrage. His short stories have been published by New Beacon Review, the Art Edition of literary magazine Staple and Artrage. He also produced book jackets, greetings cards and other material for the pioneering black-owned publishing companies in London, New Beacon Books, Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications, and Allison and Busby.
He was formerly a teacher for Advanced Painting at the Camden Arts Centre, and also served on the Visual Arts Panel for Arts Council England. He is also known as a musician, playwright and storyteller. He is the subject of a photograph by Horace Ove at the National Portrait Gallery. He also features in Ove’s film, Dream to Change the World, based on Lloyd’s interview of John LaRose, and also features his piano accompaniment to John LaRose’s poetry reading.
He has featured in some notable group exhibitions, including Transforming the Crown, New York; No Colour Bar, at the Guildhall Art Gallery; Get Up Stand Up Now at Somerset House; London and The Lie of the Land at Milton Keynes Gallery alongside such notable British artists as Gainsborough, J.M.W. Turner, Henry Moore, Bridget Riley and Yinka Shonibare.
Lloyd’s portrait of poet and historian, Kamau Brathwaite, commissioned by Pembroke College, Cambridge University, is on permanent display in the Hall which houses portraits of distinguished alumni.
