David Lyall

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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
Chorlton, Lancashire, England
Died11 May 2000(2000-05-11) (aged 83)
Denbighshire, Wales
OccupationLEGO model designer
Years active1962−1983
Signature

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.

Lyall worked at an advertising agency and designing sets for a theatre company before joining Lego.[2]


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).[3][2]

Bio

David Lyall went to art school and worked at an advertising agency before World War II. He seven years in the British Army during the war, mostly in the Middle East theatre. After the war he worked jobs, including designing store displays and as a cook on a fishing trawler.[4]

Lyall joined British LEGO Ltd on 4 November 1962.[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.[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.[3]

Lyall retired from LEGO UK at the end of November 1983.[3][2] His final build was a series of figures based on the legends of King Arthur. He was replaced by John Duffield.[6]

  • Alice in Wonderland, 1963
    Alice in Wonderland, 1963
  • Gullivers Travels (with Kenneth Jones), 1975
    Gullivers Travels (with Kenneth Jones), 1975
  • The Irish Stage Coach, 1977
    The Irish Stage Coach, 1977
  • African Safari, 1978
    African Safari, 1978
  • The King was in the Counting House, 1979
    The King was in the Counting House, 1979
  • LEGOLAND Space Cruiser, 1979
    LEGOLAND Space Cruiser, 1979
  • St. George and the Dragon, 1980
    St. George and the Dragon, 1980
  • Dragon model from Kipper (1980)
    Dragon model from Kipper (1980)
  • Kipper and submarine models in Kipper (1980)
    Kipper and submarine models in Kipper (1980)
  • The Wind in the Willows, 1982
    The Wind in the Willows, 1982
  • The ARK Building Company, 1983
    The ARK Building Company, 1983

References

  1. ↑ "David Lyall registration index records". Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wiencek, Henry (1987). The World of LEGO Toys. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. pp. 152–157. ISBN 0-8109-2362-9.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  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. ↑ 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.
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