Eric Gill was born in 1882 in Brighton. He studied at Chichester Technical and Art School.
In 1900 he moved to London to train as an architect, and in the evenings studied calligraphy under Edward Johnston – creator of the iconic London Underground Johnston typeface. Johnston became a huge influence on Gill and was the main reason behind his decision to abandon Architecture in favour or calligraphy and masonry in 1903.
Gill has since been generally associated with the Arts and Crafts movement and is a hugely controversial figure for many reasons, including his unusual religious views and the questionable relationship he had with his daughters.
Eric Gill died of lung cancer in 1940.
