Bruce Stewart was born in Fitzroy, Victoria, in Australia,
in 1936. He discovered his artistic talent during his early childhood, while thinking
of something to do to pass the time, as he was looking after his mother on her sickbed.
He excelled in pen ink drawings, which he took to the Commonwealth Bank when
they were looking for apprentices. The stamp engraver Frank D Manley, who was asked to take a look at young Bruce’s
work, needed only half an hour to be convinced that Bruce was the real deal. And
so, as a mere 15-year-old, Bruce managed to become an apprentice at the bank,
where he was taught the art of engraving. One of his surviving practice pieces was a stamp engraving, denominated Xd, of an emu, based on the existing 1942 emu definitive of Australia.
You will find Bruce Stewart's database HERE.
Stewart’s first stamp engravings appeared in 1959, when he
engraved no less than 11 of the 13 designs of a new definitive set depicting
native flora and fauna. He would go on to engrave many more issued in the 1960s.
Together with his contemporary Peter Morriss, he managed to bring a more
modernist style to the output of the stamp department.
Later in the 1960s, recess-printed stamps were being phased
out, but Stewart managed to become as involved in the new stamp printing processes
such as photogravure printing. He would also become more and more involved in
banknote design.
You will find Bruce Stewart's database HERE.