David Lyall: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name         =
| image         = David Lyall - Old King Cole, 1980 (cropped).jpg
| image        = David Lyall - Old King Cole, 1980 (cropped).jpg
| alt           = David Lyall, seen here in his mid-60s, wearing an orange sweater and holding a LEGO mouse model from the 1980 Kipper advertisement
| alt           = David Lyall, seen here in his mid-60s, wearing an orange sweater and holding a LEGO mouse model from the 1980 Kipper advertisement
| caption       = David Lyall in 1980
| caption       = David Lyall in 1980
| birth_name     = Frederick David Weatherston Lyall
| birth_name   = Frederick David Weatherston Lyall
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1916|11|29|df=y}}
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1916|11|29|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Wikipedia:Chorlton, Lancashire|Chorlton]], [[Wikipedia:Lancashire|Lancashire]], England
| birth_place   = [[Wikipedia:Chorlton, Lancashire|Chorlton]], [[Wikipedia:Lancashire|Lancashire]], England
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2000|5|11|1916|11|29|df=y}}
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|2000|5|11|1916|11|29|df=y}}
| death_place   = [[Wikipedia:Denbighshire|Denbighshire]], Wales
| death_place   = [[Wikipedia:Denbighshire|Denbighshire]], Wales
| other_names   =  
| other_names   =  
| occupation     = [[LEGO model designer]]
| occupation   = LEGO model designer
| years_active   = 1962−1983
| years_active = 1962−1983
| known_for     =  
| known_for     =  
| notable_works =  
| notable_works =  
| signature     = FDW Lyall signature.png
| signature     = FDW Lyall signature.png
| signature_alt  = FDW Lyall
}}
}}


'''Frederick David Weatherston Lyall''' (29 November 1916 − 11 May 2000)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ringtailraider.neocities.org/WikiArchives/DavidLyall-records |title=David Lyall registration index records |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> was a British artist who worked as a model designer at [[LEGO UK Ltd]].
'''Frederick David Weatherston Lyall''' (29 November 1916 − 11 May 2000)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ringtailraider.neocities.org/WikiArchives/DavidLyall-records |title=David Lyall registration index records |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> was a British artist who worked as a [[model designer]] at [[LEGO UK Ltd]].


== Bio ==
== Bio ==
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Lyall joined [[British LEGO Ltd]] on 4 November 1962.<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 83-3"/> He was part of the original design team at British LEGO (later LEGO UK), along with [[Kenneth Jones]] and [[Brena John]]. The three designed and constructed LEGO models for exhibitions and shop promotions.<ref name="Parsons 2022"/> Lyall's first LEGO model designed was a small cow. His first large display was a {{cvt|2000|sqft}} scene from ''[[Wikipedia:Alice in Wonderland|Alice in Wonderland]]'', created for a London store's [[Wikipedia:Christmas grotto|Christmas grotto]] in 1963.<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 83-3"/>
Lyall joined [[British LEGO Ltd]] on 4 November 1962.<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 83-3"/> He was part of the original design team at British LEGO (later LEGO UK), along with [[Kenneth Jones]] and [[Brena John]]. The three designed and constructed LEGO models for exhibitions and shop promotions.<ref name="Parsons 2022"/> Lyall's first LEGO model designed was a small cow. His first large display was a {{cvt|2000|sqft}} scene from ''[[Wikipedia:Alice in Wonderland|Alice in Wonderland]]'', created for a London store's [[Wikipedia:Christmas grotto|Christmas grotto]] in 1963.<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 83-3"/>


When ''[[Bricks 'n Pieces|Bricks and Pieces]]'' (later ''Bricks 'n Pieces'') was launched in December 1974, Lyall was regularly featured with his works, both large displays he worked on and smaller model ideas that readers could also build.<ref name="Bricks and Pieces 74"/> Starting in the summer 1981 issue, his section was called "The David Lyall Spot".<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 81-2"/>
When ''[[Bricks 'n Pieces|Bricks and Pieces]]'' (later ''Bricks 'n Pieces'') was launched in December 1974, Lyall was regularly featured with his works, both large displays he worked on and smaller model ideas that readers could also build.<ref name="Bricks and Pieces 74"/> Starting in the summer 1981 issue, which saw the publication expanded from a four-page newsletter to an eight-page magazine, he had his own [[Wikipedia:Column (periodical)|column]] called "The David Lyall Spot".<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 81-2"/>


Lyall retired from LEGO UK at the end of November 1983.<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 83-3"/><ref name="Wiencek 1987"/> His final build was a series of figures based on the [[Wikipedia:Arthurian legend|legends of]] [[Wikipedia:King Arthur|King Arthur]]. He was replaced as LEGO UK's chief model designer by [[John Duffield]].<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 84-1"/><ref name="Bricks n Pieces 84-2"/>
Lyall retired from LEGO UK at the end of November 1983.<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 83-3"/><ref name="Wiencek 1987"/> His final build was a series of figures based on the [[Wikipedia:Arthurian legend|legends of]] [[Wikipedia:King Arthur|King Arthur]]. He was succeeded as LEGO UK's chief model designer by [[John Duffield]].<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 84-1"/><ref name="Bricks n Pieces 84-2"/><ref name="Wiencek 1987"/>


Lyall's two favourite models he created were a recreation of the [[Wikipedia:Irish State Coach|Irish State Coach]] (1977) and a piece based on the story of [[Wikipedia:Saint George and the Dragon|St. George and the Dragon]] (1980).<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 83-3"/><ref name="Wiencek 1987"/>
Lyall's two favourite models he created were a recreation of the [[Wikipedia:Irish State Coach|Irish State Coach]] (1977) and a piece based on the story of [[Wikipedia:Saint George and the Dragon|St. George and the Dragon]] (1980).<ref name="Bricks n Pieces 83-3"/><ref name="Wiencek 1987"/>
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David Lyall - The Wind in the Willows (BnP Spring 1983).jpg | ''The Wind in the Willows'', 1982
David Lyall - The Wind in the Willows (BnP Spring 1983).jpg | ''The Wind in the Willows'', 1982
David Lyall - The ARK Building Company (BnP Summer 1983).jpg | ''The ARK Building Company'', 1983
David Lyall - The ARK Building Company (BnP Summer 1983).jpg | ''The ARK Building Company'', 1983
LEGO Wild West to be seen in Dublin (BnP Spring 1983).jpg
David Lyall's big space model (BnP Summer 1983).jpg
The LEGO Storks (BnP Summer 1983).jpg
Wild West (BnP Summer 1983).jpg
</gallery>
</gallery>


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[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:LEGO model artists]]
[[Category:LEGO model designers]]
[[Category:LEGO UK employees]]
[[Category:LEGO UK employees]]

Latest revision as of 06:12, 2 October 2025

David Lyall
David Lyall, seen here in his mid-60s, wearing an orange sweater and holding a LEGO mouse model from the 1980 Kipper advertisement
David Lyall in 1980
Born
Frederick David Weatherston Lyall

(1916-11-29)29 November 1916
Died11 May 2000(2000-05-11) (aged 83)
OccupationLEGO model designer
Years active1962−1983
Signature
FDW Lyall

Frederick David Weatherston Lyall (29 November 1916 − 11 May 2000)[1] was a British artist who worked as a model designer at LEGO UK Ltd.

Bio

David Lyall went to art school and worked at an advertising agency until World War II. He spent seven years in the British Army during the war, mostly in the Middle East theatre. After the war he worked various jobs, including designing point of sale material and larger displays for stores, and as a cook on a fishing trawler.[2][3]

Lyall joined British LEGO Ltd on 4 November 1962.[4] He was part of the original design team at British LEGO (later LEGO UK), along with Kenneth Jones and Brena John. The three designed and constructed LEGO models for exhibitions and shop promotions.[5] Lyall's first LEGO model designed was a small cow. His first large display was a 2,000 sq ft (190 m2) scene from Alice in Wonderland, created for a London store's Christmas grotto in 1963.[4]

When Bricks and Pieces (later Bricks 'n Pieces) was launched in December 1974, Lyall was regularly featured with his works, both large displays he worked on and smaller model ideas that readers could also build.[6] Starting in the summer 1981 issue, which saw the publication expanded from a four-page newsletter to an eight-page magazine, he had his own column called "The David Lyall Spot".[7]

Lyall retired from LEGO UK at the end of November 1983.[4][3] His final build was a series of figures based on the legends of King Arthur. He was succeeded as LEGO UK's chief model designer by John Duffield.[8][9][3]

Lyall's two favourite models he created were a recreation of the Irish State Coach (1977) and a piece based on the story of St. George and the Dragon (1980).[4][3]

A selection of LEGO models and displays created by David Lyall, largely sourced from Bricks 'n Pieces.

References

  1. "David Lyall registration index records". Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  2. Nicholls, Clive (1988). "The Genesis of the Idea". In Baynes, Ken (ed.). The ART of LEGO. Mold, Clwyd: Clwyd County Council. pp. 36–37. ISBN 0-904449-40-8.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Wiencek, Henry (1987). The World of LEGO Toys. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. pp. 152–157. ISBN 0-8109-2362-9.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lyall, David (Autumn 1983). Lister, Susan; Moore, Michael (eds.). "Goodbye David Lyall". Bricks 'n Pieces (Interview). Vol. 1, no. 3. Wrexham, Clwyd: LEGO UK Ltd. pp. 4–5.
  5. Parsons, Niomi (21 April 2022). "Love Wrexham, Love LEGO". Love Wrexham Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  6. Nicholls, Clive, ed. (December 1974). "The Model Page". Bricks and Pieces. No. 1. Wrexham, Clwyd: British LEGO Ltd. p. 4.
  7. Lister, Susan, ed. (Summer 1981). "The David Lyall Spot". Bricks 'n Pieces. Wrexham, Clwyd: LEGO UK Ltd. p. 8.
  8. Lister, Susan; Moore, Michael, eds. (Spring 1984). "The Sword in the Stone". Bricks 'n Pieces. Vol. 2, no. 1. Wrexham, Clwyd: LEGO UK Ltd. p. 12.
  9. Lister, Susan; Moore, Michael, eds. (Summer 1984). "New Model Designer". Bricks 'n Pieces. Vol. 2, no. 2. Wrexham, Clwyd: LEGO UK Ltd. p. 5.