William Neal
Encyclopedia
William Neal, is an English painter and graphic designer born in Guildford
in 1947, but who was brought up in the village of Bramley, Surrey, England
. He gained international fame for his artwork on the progressive rock
albums Tarkus
and Pictures at an Exhibition
by the English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer
. He graduated in 1967 at the Guildford School of Art and gained a Diploma in Art and Design, following a career in graphic arts.
When he worked for the C.C.S Associates, a leading design group in London's West End, he met ELP's
bass player and singer Greg Lake
, and decided to do some artwork for the band producing album covers. Many of his works were later used by inumerous rock bands during this time such as the Stone the Crows
, Upsetters, the Mick Abrahams Band, Audience
and other reggae bands signed for Trojan Records
.
He lives now in Wigtown, southwest Scotland
.
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
in 1947, but who was brought up in the village of Bramley, Surrey, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He gained international fame for his artwork on the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
albums Tarkus
Tarkus
Tarkus is the second album by the British progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in 1971.In 1993 the album was digitally remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio...
and Pictures at an Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite in ten movements composed for piano by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874.The suite is Mussorgsky's most famous piano composition, and has become a showpiece for virtuoso pianists...
by the English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
. He graduated in 1967 at the Guildford School of Art and gained a Diploma in Art and Design, following a career in graphic arts.
When he worked for the C.C.S Associates, a leading design group in London's West End, he met ELP's
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
bass player and singer Greg Lake
Greg Lake
Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson, and the bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.-1960s: King Crimson:...
, and decided to do some artwork for the band producing album covers. Many of his works were later used by inumerous rock bands during this time such as the Stone the Crows
Stone the Crows
Stone the Crows were a blues band formed in Glasgow in late 1969.-History:The band were formed after Maggie Bell was introduced to Les Harvey by his elder brother, Alex Harvey...
, Upsetters, the Mick Abrahams Band, Audience
Audience (band)
Audience is a cult British art rock band which existed between 1969 and 1972, and reformed in 2004.The original band consisted of Howard Werth on nylon-strung electric acoustic guitar and vocals, Keith Gemmell on tenor...
and other reggae bands signed for Trojan Records
Trojan Records
Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
.
He lives now in Wigtown, southwest Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.