AN artist, typographer and calligrapher who loved both the moors outside Haworth and the works of Emily Bronte is having his creations exhibited in the village.

Percy John Smith, who lived from 1882 to 1948, completed many drawings, sketches and etchings of the Haworth moors, and also of the Western Front through his service as a soldier during the First World War.

Thirty-two of his pictures are about to go on display in Haworth’s Old School Room, in Church Street, in an exhibition called “Bleak Landscapes from West Yorkshire to the Somme”.

The exhibition is a joint venture between Mr Smith’s great niece, Marion Delf, and the Bronte Spirit group, which looks after the Old School Room.

The pictures will be on display from tomorrow (August 3) and will remain available to view when the Old School Room is open until August 23.

Mr Smith was born in south London and grew up in Dulwich. In 1900 he went to study at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts.

Marion said: “During the war Percy was a soldier in the Howitzer Brigade of the Royal Marine Artillery.

“He wasn’t an official war artist, but he did pictures of ordinary soldiers’ lives, and a series of works called the ‘Dance of Death’.

“He served from the end of 1916 till June 1917, and left the front just before the Battle of Messines.

“To produce his wartime etchings he would have copper plates sent to him hidden inside magazines, and he’d use a gramophone needle stuck to a piece of wood to create the pictures.”

Following the war Mr Smith, who continued living in London but frequently visited West Yorkshire, set up a workshop and type studio in the capital.

He continued producing new art – including portraits – and specialised in typography and calligraphy. He was responsible for the lettering on the famous Canadian National Vimy Memorial, in France.

Marion added: “In his time he was quite important as an artist and was significant in the Arts and Crafts Movement. He was very versatile, and ended up being master of the Art Workers’ Guild.”

For the exhibition’s duration the Old School Room will be open from 11am to 4pm at weekends. Check the information board outside for details of week day openings.