David Lyall: Difference between revisions

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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
LEGO Wild West to be seen in Dublin (BnP Spring 1983).jpg | ''LEGO Wild West'', 1982
David Lyall's big space model (BnP Summer 1983).jpg
Wild West (BnP Summer 1983).jpg | ''LEGO Wild West'', 1982
The LEGO Storks (BnP Summer 1983).jpg
David Lyall's big space model (BnP Summer 1983).jpg | ''Galaxy Explorer'', 1982
Wild West (BnP Summer 1983).jpg
The LEGO Storks (BnP Summer 1983).jpg | ''The LEGO Storks''
</gallery>
</gallery>



Revision as of 03:35, 15 January 2026

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. a b c d Wiencek, Henry (1987). The World of LEGO Toys. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. pp. 152–157. ISBN 0-8109-2362-9.
  4. a b c d 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.