BARRY TRENGOVE - AN OBITUARY

We were saddened to learn recently of the passing of Barry Trengove, one of D&AD's founding members. His partner has been unable to notify many of Barry's friends and colleagues as the address book on his computer was inadvertently erased. Below is a tribute by Keith Milligan, who worked with Barry for several years:

Barry Trengove, art director, designer, illustrator, painter and one of the founding members of D&AD was one of the most influential figures on the London graphics scene in the 'Swinging 60s' and then the 70s.

A friend of Jeff Banks and Mary Quant, he was Art Editor of Harper's Bazaar for three years in the early 60s. During this time he gave breakthrough assignments to many of the up-and-coming 'Young Turk' photographers such as David Bailey.

Later in the 60s he masterminded the trailblazing launch of Honey magazine for the burgeoning youth market.

He was probably unique in that he won awards in three very different fields: as an art director, as a designer and as an illustrator.

His work was featured in the D&AD Annual, New York Art Directors Club Annual, Communications Arts US, Graphics (Switzerland), Gebrauch Grafik (Germany), Design Magazine (England), Modern Publicity (England) and AWARD (Australian Writers and Art Directors Annual)

He also had four solo shows of his oil paintings: at the Redfern Gallery and Interpretations Gallery in London and at the Painters Gallery and Access Gallery in Sydney. His work also featured in numerous mixed exhibitions.

Anyone who knows anything about graphics and the visual arts will appreciate what a multi-faceted, remarkable achievement this is.

Barry 'Bazza' Trengove was born in Broken Hill, Australia in 1932, a mining town not known for its culture.

The son of a publican, he quickly became a useful boxer and a powerful swimmer. After an education at the local grammar school he decamped to Sydney to begin a career in advertising and design.

He soon decided that Sydney in the Fifties was as uncultural as Broken Hill so packed his bags for New York, where he made his way as a photographer and art director.

After his time at Harper's Bazaar and Honey, he became Head of Art at the prestigious London ad agency Wasey Campbell Ewald.

One of his most memorable campaigns was for the International Wool Secretariat. It featured Muhammad Ali (and other style icons) in elegant, understated natural wool products under the theme line 'Where does Muhammed Ali get his style? Pure Wool'.

Following his stint as Waseys, he became creative director of the Vernons ad agency, also in London.

Always immaculately groomed, Bazza's urbane exterior concealed a great sense of fun. Would-be copywriters and art directors for Vernons would be confronted at their interview by BAzza sat behind a large desk with a kitsch 18" garden gnome sat upon it (a former prop). If you failed to mention the gnome, you failed to get the job. No sense of humour.

Similarly, on Anzac Day, Bazza would wear a battered stockman's hat, complete with with dangling corks, and break open a case of Fosters.

As a cultured, well-read man and a bon viveur he savoured the cosmopolitan delights of London; but in 1980 he was delighted to discover that Sydney had become a grownup world capital too.

In 1981 international ad agency McCann Erickson made him an offer he couldn't refuse. He returned to Sydney as their National Creative Director.

Later he ran his own successful consultancy with his partner Kay Barnes, whilst continuing to paint and exhibit.

In 2002 he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He died from this condition on June 15th 2006.

He is survived by his long-time partner Kay Barnes, a son, Jason, and a daughter, Michelle, from a former marriage.