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London Underground Art Posters

London Underground has a long history, since the early 20th century, of commissioning artists and designers to produce posters for display in tube stations. In 1986, after a short lapse, London Underground began an active campaign of commissioning artists again with the aim of concentrating on fine art, rather than poster design. The essential difference was that artists were given a free hand without outside influence on the resulting work of art, unlike the commercial art route to advertising. The only specification was that all places had to be accessible by Underground. The resulting posters were never considered advertisements; rather, they were seen as good decoration for the stations, a passenger benefit and a way of continuing the Underground's long history of responsibility towards art and heritage.

Many famous artists responded to the offer of commissions, including Julian Trevelyan RA, John Bellany RA, Ruskin Spear RA, Bruce McLean, Sandra Fisher, RB Kitaj RA, Tom Wood, Philip Sutton RA, Frederick Gore RA, Howard Hodgkin, Anthony Green RA, Mick Rooney RA, Jeffrey Camp RA, Gillian Ayres RA, Norman Hepple RA, Martin Parr and many others.

These posters were all printed between 1986 and 1992 and have been stored ever since rolled in tubes. Their provenance is excellent. The printing varied to accommodate the wishes of the artists, sometimes requiring as many as six colours.

Below are images of these posters with a clickable selection of 12 posters at the end. Our current stock of London Underground and London Transport posters is available to view at our gallery and online at www.AntikBar.co.uk (with worldwide delivery). Please contact us if you would like any more information on these posters, or any other poster listed on our website.


Tate Gallery, David Booth Fine White Line, 1986	Brick Lane Clothes Show, Mick Rooney ARA, 1991	Camden Lock, John Bellany, 1991	City Farms, Lizzie Riches, 1990

Cricket, Lovely Cricket, Adrian Clarke, 1991	Days on the Water, Sandra Fisher, 1989	Columbia Road Flower Market, Kay Gallwey, 1988	Fly the Tube to Heathrow, Wilson McLean, 1986

To come home in the evening, Martin Parr, 1991	We wanted a cottagey, Martin Parr, 1991	Sue has definitely, Martin Parr, 1991	We keep on buying, Martin Parr, 1991

Highgate Cemetery, Terrence Warren, 1990	Lazing on a Summer Afternoon, Norman Hepple, 1991	The New Kew, Jenny Tuffs, 1987	Find Michaelangelo at the V&A, RB Kitaj, 1992

The New Piccadilly Circus, Jacqueline Rizvi, 1990	Oranges and Lemons, Gillian Ayres, 1991	Richmond Riverside, Spencer Rowell, 1989	Sir John Soane's Museum, Dan Fern, 1987

Take the Tube to the Park, Peter Lee, 1986	Garden of Earthly Delights, Pascale Petit, 1990	Flamingoes, Kay Gallwey, 1987	Museum of Childhood, Simon Gales, 1990

Royal Academy of Arts, Anthony Green, 1990	Whitechapel Gallery, Bruce McLean, 1988	Fly the Tube to Amsterdam, 1986	Fly the Tube to Paris, 1986

Monument, Jeffrey Camp, 1991	Get Your Skates On, Roslav Szaybo, 1988	Weedonhill Wood, Lucas Kuys, 1992	West End by Tube, Celia Lyttleton, 1986

Fly the Tube to Heathrow, Benoit Jacques, 1987	Starve A Meter	Please Take Your Litter Home