RCA community celebrated in New Year Honours

Influential Professor of Communication and former Dean of the School of Communication, Neville Brody, is appointed an OBE for services to Design.

One of the most celebrated graphic designers of his generation, Neville is a leading typographer and internationally recognised art director and brand strategist. The founder of design agency Brody Associates, he established his reputation as creative director of the 1980’s Face magazine, subsequently working with record labels, magazines and a range of international clients including Apple, BBC online, The Times, Channel 4 and the England football team. His hugely influential work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and publications, most notably the two-volume monograph The Graphic Language of Neville Brody, which was accompanied by an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He was previously Dean of the School of Communication and Head of the Visual Communication programme at the RCA, becoming Professor of Communication in 2018.

On receiving his OBE, Neville Brody commented: “I'm amazed and proud to be receiving this honour. I have always attempted to use the platforms of graphic design and education to try and provoke thought, catalyse change, seek new possibilities, and encourage young designers to discover their own voice. It is humbling as a recognition, and I feel that as the world evolves and delivers new and unprecedented challenges, there is still so much opportunity and need to explore and unearth new solutions.”

Graham Ibbeson, who graduated from the RCA’s MA Sculpture programme in 1978, is appointed MBE for services to the Arts.

Regarding receiving his MBE, Graham is quoted in the Sheffield Star as saying: “I have striven all my life to make art that is accessible to all, very often using humour to draw people in by deflecting the misfortunes of life, and occasionally in my commissioned work, ‘reflecting’ the hardships of that same life. My work is always figurative and always has a back story, a narrative. This award is part of my own narrative now, my family’s, my friends’ and all the people who have supported my career over the 55 years. I would like to think I have received this wonderful honour for being true to myself and sticking to my principles.”

Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and known as the “The People's Sculptor”, he has been a professional sculptor since graduating from the RCA in 1978. He has developed an international reputation exhibiting in galleries throughout Europe, the USA, and Asia. Through his commissions and over 30 public works, Ibbeson has helped to regenerate whole areas of cities and towns across the UK. Graham’s Laurel & Hardy (unveiled in Ulverston, Cumbria in April 2009) increased visitor numbers by 50% in less than a year according to the Ulverston tourism office, and his Eric Morecambe (unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen in 1999) has helped to reshape the resort of Morecambe.

Also gaining recognition, in the form of a Damehood, for services to the Arts is artist, colourist, master printmaker and RCA Honorary Fellow Barbara Rae.

Dame Barbara studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1961 to 1965 where she was awarded a travel scholarship, taking her to work in France and Spain in 1966. She attended Moray House College of Education and taught in Edinburgh until 1972. She went on to Lecture in Drawing, Painting and Printmaking at Aberdeen College of Education from 1972 to 1974 and Lectured in drawing and Painting at Glasgow School of Art from 1975 to 1996. Barbara's work has been included in many solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. Among her many awards are Major Scottish Arts Council Awards (1975, 1981), Guthrie Medal, Royal Scottish Academy (1977), Royal Scottish Academy Sir William Gillies Travel Award (1983) Calouste Gulbenkian Printmaking Award (1983) and Hunting Group Prizewinner (1990). Barbara was elected President of the Society of Scottish Artists in 1983. She was made a Member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1992 (ARSA 1980) and a Royal Academician in 1996.