Laurence Fish was a successful commercial illustrator and artist. He trained as an illustrator in Max Millar’s studio where he specialised in technical subjects such as aircraft, motor cars and yachts. He became a meticulous draughtsman which enabled him to later work for various publications such as Yachting World and Autocar. He served with the RAF during the Second World War where he was seconded to Victor Rothschild’s anti-sabotage unit in MI5 and became well-known for drawing an exploding bar of chocolate. Following the Second World War Fish became a founding member of the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers. He became internationally known as a painter and illustrator and received many commissions from industrial companies, including Shell, BP and Dunlop. His covers for Flight International and posters for British Rail, including a winner of the Poster of the Year, are now considered collectors’ items.

Fish also worked in editorial magazine illustration, particularly figure subjects and from there in graphic design. Although he had continued to paint and to undertake commissions during this time he was not able to concentrate on painting full time until the 1980s. Since then his paintings have been exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, the Royal Society of Marine Artists as well as the Priory Gallery in the Cotswolds. His work is held in private collections in Britain and the USA.