John T. Kenney

John Theodore Eardley Kenney (1911-72), better known as John T. Kenney, was the illustrator of the Railway Series books from "The Eight Famous Engines" to "Gallant old Engine", after which he developed eye trouble and resigned.

Kenney trained to be an artist at Leicester College of Art, and then took up a job at a firm called J. E. Slater, where he later met his future wife, Peggy. In WWII, Kenney served in the 121st Light AA Regiment, during which time he made many sketches of the D-Day landings and the sweep of the Allies across Europe.

As well as being a commercial artist, Kenney illustrated two self-written books - "The Grey Pony" in 1954 and "The Shetland Pony" the next year. Unfortunately, sickness meant he had to resign and take a job in freelance art. Edmund Ward (the publisher for the Railway Series) commissioned him to illustrate a series called "Hunter Hawk, Skyway Detective" and "The Eight Famous Engines". He also illustrated several titles for Ladybird Books, including "The Story of Nelson", "Florence Nightingale" and "King Alfred the Great".

When he died in 1972, an exhibition of his paintings were exhibited in Chicago.