In memory of Philip Castle

Born in Yorkshire in 1942, Philip studied at the Royal College of Art in the sixties, where he developed his meticulous airbrush technique that defined his sleek, hyper-real style. Over a prolific career spanning more than 1,300 commissions, he produced artwork for films, albums, magazines and advertising, often working independently from his home studio. Widely regarded as one of the last great Pop artists, his work influenced generations of designers and secured him a lasting place in visual culture.

He rose to prominence after being invited by Stanley Kubrick to design the poster for A Clockwork Orange, producing a striking, airbrushed image that became as culturally enduring as the film itself. His later work on Full Metal Jacket, featuring the unforgettable “Born to Kill” helmet, cemented his reputation for capturing the psychological intensity of Kubrick’s films. Beyond cinema, Philip also contributed to music history, adding the famous teardrop detail to David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane cover, and working with artists including the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney.