Bernard Nevill FRSA FCSD (24 September 1930 – 30 January 2019)[1] [2] was a British designer and academic, formerly a professor at Saint Martin's School of Art and design director for Liberty of London.
Nevill joined Liberty's in 1965, and "revitalised their traditional prints, introducing Art Deco-style patterns and Islamic themes".[3] He rose to design director, and was succeeded by Susan Collier.[3]
Nevill lived at West House, a Grade II* listed house at 35 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, which he bought in 1976 for about £67,000, until he sold it in 2011 for £20 million. It was built in 1868–1869 by the architect Philip Webb, on behalf of the artist George Price Boyce, who lived there from 1870 until his death in 1897.[4] [5]
Some of his paintings, furniture and furnishings, which appeared in the 1987 film Withnail and I and 1998 film B. Monkey were auctioned by Christie's in 2011, and were expected to realise about £200,000.[6] The sale total was actually £471,400.[7] More property belonging to Nevill, including items that appeared in Withnail and I such as Uncle Monty's sofa, was auctioned by Bellmans Auctioneers in February 2022, with the proceeds going to charity.[8]
Nevill died in London at the age of 88 on 30 January 2019 after a long period of illness.[9]