10 Facts About Francis Wilford-Smith

Francis Wilford-Smith was a British cartoonist, graphic artist, and producer and archivist of blues music.

Francis Wilford-Smith was born Francis Wilford Smith in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, the second son of pharmacist Wilford Smith and Frances Hunt, who died shortly after his birth.

Francis Wilford-Smith attended Warwick School, where he began drawing cartoons, but left at the age of 16 to train as a radio operator.

Francis Wilford-Smith joined the Merchant Navy, serving during the Second World War on convoys to Africa and across the Atlantic.

Francis Wilford-Smith then became an art teacher, and for a time worked as an animator with Halas and Batchelor, before becoming assistant display manager for the women's clothing chain Richard Shops and assistant to the industrial designer Ian Bradbury.

Francis Wilford-Smith worked more widely as a graphic designer and book illustrator.

Francis Wilford-Smith was an expert on and major collector of blues and gospel music, writing and broadcasting on the subject.

Francis Wilford-Smith owned one of the world's most important collections of early 78 rpm recorded piano blues.

Francis Wilford-Smith continued to draw until forced to give up through ill health in 1998.

Francis Wilford-Smith died in 2009 in Ledbury, Herefordshire, at the age of 82.