Glaswegian who became celebrated art director at Penguin

Born: October 15 1963;

Died: February 10, 2019

JOHN Hamilton, who has died aged 55, was a celebrated figure in the publishing profession and a long-standing art director at Penguin who built a fine reputation commissioning covers for classic and contemporary books from a wide variety of artists. He delighted in avoiding the conventional and instructed artists to "do what you do" and became particularly known for the designs for Jamie Oliver's cookery books.

One of Hamilton's great gifts was the ability to interpret briefs from editors and authors who always wanted something special, unusual and eye-catching for their books. He persuaded Banksy, for example, to design the cover of a Nick Cave book as part of the Penguin Essentials series.

John Hamilton was born in Glasgow where his mother Sheila was a housewife and his father John a policeman. He attended Aitkenbar Primary School in Dumbarton, Gartconner Primary School in Kirkintilloch and finally Kirkintilloch High School. At the last his passion for drawing and design was recognised by an art teacher who encouraged him and gave him extra lessons.

He applied for a foundation course at Cardonald College where his talent was immediately recognised and went to the Glasgow School of Art to join their second-year students.

His degree show in 1989 caused quite a stir. Hamilton’s distinctive and original designs included a series of dust covers for imaginary books. An art director at the publisher William Heinemann flew up from London and offered him a job on the spot – on condition he started the following Monday. Hamilton was undecided: he was very fond of Glasgow and its traditions, its culture and the local music. More importantly, he was a passionate Rangers supporter.

He was also reluctant to leave his girlfriend but his mother persuaded him to take the job. Years later he acknowledged his debt to her - when asked who inspired him, he replied, “My mum. She persuaded me to leave Glasgow two days after my degree show, leaving my friends and girlfriend to a big adventure in a big city with no money.”

Initially, London was a trial – he lived in a dorm at the YMCA, knew no one and was on the point of returning to Glasgow. He stayed, though, and made a strong impression with one his first covers on football, All Played Out, the story of Italia 1990. It showed the iconic figure of Paul Gascoigne weeping into his English shirt.

Hamilton was a devoted foodie and formed a close relationship with Jamie Oliver. Hamilton had a large collection of cookery books and art-directed every one of Oliver’s books. They enjoyed a most happy creative collaboration: Oliver, on hearing of Hamilton's death messaged, "What a sad, sad loss. John was a great, true friend to me and one of the country’s best art directors.”

His time at Penguin Essentials fictional collection brought him to the attention of many in the industry, especially after Hamilton commissioned Banksy for the Nick Cave’s novel And the Ass Saw the Angel. The artist submitted a design of an animal robed like a Madonna and encircled by a halo of bombs. Hamilton was struck by its sheer originality and somehow got it past his superiors. It reflected his desire to break with the conventional and his delight in the mischievous.

Hamilton moved Penguin into using less traditional and more zany designers more in tune with his own generation: artists from fashion, graffiti and the world of tattooing. He was to work with some of Penguin’s most celebrated authors from William Boyd and Nick Hornby to Dawn French and Antony Beevor and brought to all their dust jackets his restless imagination. He had the knack of translating the (often vague) ideas of editors or authors into reality. John le Carre and William Boyd profited by his subtle ability to capture the essence of their books.

Hamilton lived in Lewes, Sussex for many years. That did not stop him returning twice a month to watch his beloved Rangers and retained close ties with Glasgow. He retained his strong accent with pride and delighted in dismissing some design proposals as “nae very bonny” or “a bit peely-wally”. He was distressed about the fires that have ravaged his alma mater and as a way to show his appreciation for their excellent guidance there were plans for Hamilton to hold seminars.

He was a popular figure amongst colleagues (“without ego – always gave credit to designers”) and he inspired and encouraged many young designers.

He is survived by his wife Claire and their two children.

ALASDAIR STEVEN