David Bethel (1923-2006) was a printmaker, designer, typographer and painter, born in Bath, Somerset. Following active service with the Royal Navy in the Far East, he studied at Gloucester School of Art and the West of England College of Art, graduating in 1951. He taught at art schools in the Midlands and became Principal of Coventry School of Art.
An elected member of the Royal West of England Academy, his academic career lead him to become Director of Leicester Polytechnic between 1973-1987 and also his award of the CBE in 1983. In 1999, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of the West of England. David Bethel used wood engraving, gouache, lithography, lino-cuts and oil in his art. Examples of his work are in Stafford City Art Gallery, New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester and the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry.
