Poster, 'Restful Norfolk Island'

Crisp colours, bright sun and seaside horse-rides create a scene that must have appealed to travellers looking for a warm, outdoorsy holiday. TEAL began offering flights to Norfolk Island after it took over the route from New Zealand’s national airline, NAC (National Airways Corporation), in 1952.

This poster was designed by Arthur Thompson (1915 – 1997). In the 1950s, Thompson worked for TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited), the forerunner of Air New Zealand. Exotic, colourful designs enticed travellers onto TEAL’s flights to glamorous destinations across the Pacific.

Thompson was a commercial artist who worked in New Zealand and Britain. He studied at the Elam School of Fine Arts and in the 1960s had a successful career as a costume and set designer for film and television.