Amsden, Deirdre, b 1941 (Artist)
Person
Dates
- Existence: b 1941
Found in 36 Collections and/or Records:
Sub-Sub-Sub-Series
A Nasty Piece of Work: The Art and Graft of Spitting Image, 1960-c 1968, 1992
Sub-Sub-Sub-Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/3/4/6/2/7
Scope and Contents
Photographic material connected to the Roger Law/Spitting Image Productions Limited book, A Nasty Piece of Work: The Art and Graft of Spitting Image, which was published in November 1992.
The following are present, and their number corresponds to their file or item reference number within this sub-sub-sub-series:1. A folder with four black and white photographs from the 1960s: a photo of Roger Law, Peter Fluck, Deirdre Amsden and others by the...
Dates:
1960-c 1968; 1992
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Archive Promotional Brochures, 2016
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/5/13/1
Scope and Contents
Two examples of a Spitting Image Archive brochure, which was produced to promote the collection to heritage and educational organisations, and generate interest from such institutions to acquire the archive for their holdings. The brochure is heavily illustrated with photographic imagery taken from the archive, and contains the following information: a history of Spitting Image and the work of Roger Law and Peter Fluck prior to the show; the contents of the archive...
Dates:
2016
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Series:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
Sub-Sub-Sub-Series
Australia Trips, 1994 - 1996, 1997 - 1999
Sub-Sub-Sub-Series
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/3/7/3/3/2
Scope and Contents
Material connected to two trips made by Roger Law to Australia in 1995 and 1996. Items include, but are not limited to: contact lists, correspondence, ephemera, event schedules, travel documentation, and a proposal for a puppet making university course.The following are present, and their accompanying number corresponds to their file reference number within this sub-sub-sub-series:1. A folder with material that relates to Law's attendance and participation at the...
Dates:
1994 - 1996; 1997 - 1999
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Brittany Letters, 1959
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/1/3/3
Scope and Contents
A file holding two manuscript letters: one from Deirdre Amsden to her parents, and the other from Roger Law to his parents and brother. Both of these letters were sent while the couple were holidaying in Brittany with Richard Fletcher and his family. Amsden informs her parents that they are staying with the Fletchers for another week, before providing an account of their activities and a description of their accommodation. Law gives details on a sailing trip, a visit to an art exhibition in...
Dates:
1959
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Series:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
Cairo Studios Tiles Folder, 1993-c 1995
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/3/13/5
Scope and Contents
A file of correspondence, artwork samples and designs relating to the manufacture of ceramic tiles for the decoration of the main entrance steps to Spitting Image Productions Limited's Cairo Studios premises, which the company relocated to in the summer of 1994. The majority of correspondence in the file are from the company, Pamela Moreton Ceramics, and mostly cover the design and test firing of the ceramic tiles.Also present within this file is a random statement from the...
Dates:
1993-c 1995
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Cartoon Art Trust Awards, 1998
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/3/12/8
Scope and Contents
A file containing a letter, ephemera and a speech transcript for the 1998 Cartoon Trust Awards, which was held at The Royal Institution of Great Britain, London, on 25 November 1998. At this event, Roger Law and Peter Fluck were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. As Law was living in Australia at that time, his wife, Deirdre Amsden, read out a prepared written speech in his absence.The letter informs Law and Fluck that they are the recipients of the award and invites...
Dates:
1998
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Ffobia, 1959 - 1960
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/2/1/3
Scope and Contents
Three issues of the Cambridge University student magazine, Ffobia, which feature illustrations by Roger Law, Deirdre Amsden and Peter Fluck. The following items are present: 1. Autumn 1959 (Vol. 1, No. 1) - pages 18 to 20 feature illustrations by Law and Amsden, and page 28 has an illustration by Fluck.2. Spring 1960 (Vol. 1, No. 2) - illustrations by Law.3. Autumn 1960 (Vol. 2, No. 2) - cover by Law and Amsden (the latter using her...
Dates:
Publication: 1959 - 1960
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
First Sale File, 2000 - 2002
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/5/7/2/1/2
Scope and Contents
A file of papers concerning matters prior to and following the first sale of Spitting Image puppets by Sotheby's, held online over 14 days in July 2000. A large proportion of the file's contents are correspondence, in the form of faxes, and they cover the following topics: the preparation of puppets for the sale; the preparation of photographs; matters regarding payments owed following the sale; the intention to sell the unsold puppets at another auction; and...
Dates:
2000 - 2002
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Series:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Granta, 1961 - 1964
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/2/1/4
Scope and Contents
Six issues of the Cambridge University student magazine, Granta. Roger Law and Deirdre Amsden were art directors for some of the issues, along with providing illustrations to accompany articles, etc. The following items are present:1. May 1961 (Vol. LXIV, No. 1209) - Law's first issue as art director; there is also a small print design by him, accompanying the poem, Autumn, written by Michael Grant (RL/Pre-/986).2....
Dates:
Publication: 1961 - 1964
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
Hackney Empire Appeal File, 2000
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/5/7/2/1/4
Scope and Contents
A file containing a variety of material connected to a charity event for the Hackney Empire Theatre, which was held at Sotheby's London-based auction house, on 12 July 2000, involving an exhibition of Spitting Image puppets and other related material. This event took place during the 14-day period when the Sotheby's/Amazon.com online auction of Spitting Image puppets was active. As part of the event, a number of puppets and other items...
Dates:
2000
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Series:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Letters from Julian Allen and Joan Steiner to Roger Law and Deirdre Amsden, 1974
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/1/3/4
Scope and Contents
A file holding two manuscript letters: one from British illustrator, Julian Allen, and the other from his partner, Joan Steiner; sent together from the United States during the Thanksgiving season. Allen's letter is addressed to both Roger Law and Deirdre Amsden, and also Peter Fluck and his wife Ann, and includes some of the following topics: plans for Christmas; a story about individuals taking money from an intelligence agency; Muhammad Ali's The Rumble in the...
Dates:
1974
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Series:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
Luck & Flaw Containers Summary File, 1991-c 2010s
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/7/1/2
Scope and Contents
A file containing computer-processed lists for the contents of the original three portfolios and five boxes that arrived at Cambridge University Library, which held material relating to the professional output of Luck & Flaw. There is also a general list of items/illustrations produced by the partnership, whose reference numbers range from 1 to 313. Also present are two sets of lists, produced by Spitting Image Productions Limited in 1991 and at some other point in the 1990s, which lists...
Dates:
1991-c 2010s
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Luck & Flaw Index Cards, c 2000s-c 2010s
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/7/4/2
Scope and Contents
A box holding a bundle of index cards, in alphabetical order based upon illustration/artwork or publication title, which contain information on a particular illustration or object that originally held a L+F/[Number] reference number in the Roger Law Archive, prior to its deposit and subsequent cataloguing at Cambridge University Library. These index cards provide the following: the title of the photographic illustration, artwork or other item; its original reference number; the date of its...
Dates:
c 2000s-c 2010s
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Luck & Flaw Record Forms, c 2010s
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/7/5/2
Scope and Contents
A box holding a bundle of catalogue record forms, which document artwork, photographic images, publications and other material primarily found within what is now the Luck & Flaw sub-fonds of the Roger Law Archive. Images of photographic illustrations and other artwork from this period also occasionally appear within the Spitting Image Productions Limited and the Roger Law (Post-Spitting Image Years) sub-fonds of the archive.These record forms contain the following: the...
Dates:
c 2010s
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Man & Motor: The 20th Century Love Affair, 1966
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/2/4/2
Scope and Contents
A hardback copy of the book, Man & Motor: The 20th Century Love Affair, edited by Derek Jewell. Pages 106-107 feature an image of a model car, made by Deirdre Amsden, which accompanies a section on F. Scott Fitzgerald and his use of cars in his works. Page 115 features a pencil illustration, drawn by Roger Law, which accompanies the short story, A Simple Little Three-Car Trick, written by Ken W. Purdy (RL/Pre-/1030). There is an...
Dates:
Publication: 1966
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
Item
Partnership Workbook, 1975 - 1983, c 2000s-c 2010s
Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/2/8/1
Scope and Contents
A four-column Greenback analysis book that documents the various illustration commissions undertaken by Luck & Flaw, between July 1975 and 1983, with information on publication, deadline for job and fee for work. The volume has later additions, c 2000s-c 2010s, presumably written by Deirdre Amsden, noting the L+F reference numbers connected with each job. The vast majority of the volume is unused.Accompanying the volume is a file holding a five-page document of handwritten...
Dates:
1975 - 1983; c 2000s-c 2010s
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Fonds:
The collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Special Collections Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. Please see specific entries within the catalogue for any access restrictions present for particular files or items. For further details on conditions governing access please contact specialcollections@lib.cam.ac.uk . Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
File
Photographic Material, 1968
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/5/5
Scope and Contents
A file containing eight black and white photographs, along with three sheets of contact prints and four sets of negatives, holding images that were taken during the filming of the puppet film, The Milkman: A Satire on Capitalism. This film was made by Roger Law, Will Baker, and a number of students at Reed College, Oregon, in 1968. There are images of the set, the puppets, and of the individuals involved. Also present are four 35mm colour photographic slides, which...
Dates:
1968
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
Portfolio 2, 1960 - 1973
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/1/1/2
Scope and Contents
A portfolio holding an array of drawings, woodcut prints, proofs, posters, and other items; all of which contain artwork by or relate to Roger Law's activities with various publications, organisations and companies.The following items are present:1. A proof on newsprint paper of a woodcut print, which features an image of Winston Churchill and Sir Harold Nicolson. This image was used in The Sunday Times, as part of The War...
Dates:
1960 - 1973
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Series:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
Portfolio 3, 1961 - 1972
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/1/1/3
Scope and Contents
A portfolio holding an array of drawings, woodcut prints, proofs, photographic material, newspaper/magazine tearsheets and other items; all of which contain artwork or relate to artwork produced by Roger Law for various publications, organisations and companies.The following items are present:1. Three copies of a menu for the Humphrey Ridley Tomalin farewell dinner, which feature eight portraits printed from pencil drawings. The date of the dinner was the 24 February 1965...
Dates:
1961 - 1972
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Series:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
Pre-First Sale File, 1999 - 2000
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/5/7/2/1/1
Scope and Contents
A file of papers concerning matters prior to the first sale of Spitting Image puppets by Sotheby's, held online over 14 days in July 2000. The majority of items present are correspondence, in the form of faxes, and they cover the following topics: early interest from the Christie's auction house to host a sale; a proposed exhibition at Whitechapel Art Gallery, which would have preceded the sale at Sotheby's; the preparation of puppets and photographs for the sale;...
Dates:
1999 - 2000
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Series:
See sub-level descriptions for information on access conditions.
File
Professional Correspondence, 1961 - 1975
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/7
Scope and Contents
Two boxes containing manuscript and typescript letters, memoranda and postcards addressed to Roger Law, along with a small amount of accompanying material, which mostly concern his professional activities and relationships between 1961 and 1975. There are also copies of letters and memoranda sent by Law to various individuals. Also present are a few letters addressed to Law's wife, Deirdre Amsden.The first box covers the years 1961 to 1969. Topics include, but are not limited to:...
Dates:
1961 - 1975
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
Props and Costume Stencils, 1968
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/5/4
Scope and Contents
A file holding small hardboard credit card props, along with a metal prop in the design of a credit card, used in the puppet film, The Milkman: A Satire on Capitalism, produced by Roger Law, members of staff and students at Reed College, Oregon, in 1968. Also present are costume stencils for the puppets' clothing in the film; pages from newspapers have been used for these stencils.
Dates:
1968
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
File
Queen, 1962 - 1965
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/1/2/2/1/8
Scope and Contents
One issue of the fortnightly magazine, Queen, along with tearsheets from a number of other editions from that publication; all of which feature illustrations by Roger Law. The following issue and tearsheets are present:1. Tearsheets from the 10 April 1962 issue, containing pages 77 to 80, which have the Sir Roy Welensky - The Whole Hog prints that illustrate the article, Where the Dark Waters Meet,...
Dates:
Publication: 1962 - 1965
Conditions Governing Access:
From the Sub-Sub-Fonds:
See sub-level descriptions for any information on access restrictions or closures of material.
Fonds
Roger Law Archive
Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275
Scope and Contents
The title of this archive is somewhat of a misnomer, considering that it incorporates a mix of Roger Law’s own archive, material donated by his long-time collaborator, Peter Fluck; and the corporate archive of Spitting Image Productions Limited (SIPL). However, the vast majority of these items were held in Law’s possession, following the cancellation of the original series of Spitting Image. Ultimately, the archive represents Law’s professional life, from freelance...
Dates:
1946 - 2025
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Special Collections Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. Please see specific entries within the catalogue for any access restrictions present for particular files or items. For further details on conditions governing access please contact specialcollections@lib.cam.ac.uk . Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Found in:
Cambridge University Library
File
Roger Law CVs and Biographies, c 1996-c 2010s
File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10275/5/2/1
Scope and Contents
A file holding various media curricula vitae for Roger Law, dating from the late 1990s to the late 2000s, which document his professional work, public lecturing, exhibitions, involvement in television and radio programming, and other activities. There is also a bundle of short manuscript and typescript biographies for Law, produced either to be used in books or as part of other endeavours. Also present is a small bundle of correspondence, originals and copies, including a letter from Law to...
Dates:
c 1996-c 2010s
Conditions Governing Access:
Part closed. Some material in this file are not available, under the Library’s confidentiality guidelines for sensitive data (in compliance with the Data Protection Act (2018)). Restricted items are closed until 2041.