In 1976, Britt Taylor Collins completed a four-year degree in the Communication Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University where he benefited from such instructors as Ed Bedno, who later became the Design Curator for the Air Space Museum, and Phillip Meggs, whose book, "The History of Graphic Design", has become the standard textbook in the field. Even before graduating, Britt was recognized by New York's Society of Illustrators for excellence in student achievement.
In the past 25 years, Britt has illustrated over 200 magazine and book covers, working with virtually every major Christian publisher in America. His artwork has graced the covers of such respected authors as Norman Vincent Peale, Max Lucado, Ron Rhodes, and R. C. Sproul. Most notable is his design and illustration work for Multnomah's 26-book Critical Concern Series. He has been the art director for Inter-Varsity's "HIS Magazine", illustrated covers for "Christianity Today", created Gene Sitter's "Christian Citizen" magazine, and designed "Inside Journal", the nation's first in-prison news publication.
Britt Taylor Collins has steadily moved into the field of the fine arts, particularly limited edition prints. His work has been reproduced by Bendix and Boeing for their Paris Air Show Print Series, and by the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors for their celebratory 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Print. During this same time Atlanta's Perimeter Church commissioned Britt to create elaborate murals to place in the sanctuary during Global Outreach Emphasis, two of which hung in the Jerusalem International Convention Center for the "2000 Celebrate Messiah" event.
Work done earlier in his career for the late Jeffrey Ethell, arguably the foremost aviation historian in America, prepared Britt for the rigors of historical accuracy necessary for military artwork. In one of his first military pieces, Closing the Gap, the artist was commissioned by the highly decorated Lt. Col. Edward S. Hamilton to memorialize the 90th Infantry Division's contribution to the final battles of the Normandy Campaign. Closing the Gap will be in the permanent collection of the U.S.M.A. at West Point, and lithographs from the painting can be seen in five military museums boh in France and in the United States.In 2000, Britt was commissioned to depict the European Theatre's last artillery action of World War II in the painting The Last Round which is now on permanent exhibit at the Ft. Sill Field Artillery Museum in Oklahoma. In addition, in 2002, the 90th Regional Support Command Headquarters installed an elaborate three panel mural completed by Mr. Collins which serves as a visual history of the 90th Infantry Division from World War One to the present anti-terrorist missions.
Britt lives with his wife, Patricia, and their three sons Taylor, Jesse, and Alexander in Berkeley Lake, Georgia. They attend Perimeter Church where Britt serves as an elder.
Britt also works with the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation
which owns the largest collection of flying Vietnam era aircraft in
the
world. The AAHF commemorates the sacrifices of the men and women that
served in Southeast Asia by conducting military exercises at air shows
across the country.
Photo Top: Artist on Normandie's Utah Beach, where his Father-in-Law, Col. Edward S. Hamilton, landed some sixty years ago, commanding a battalion with the 90th Infantry Division.
Photo Bottom: The artist takes a break in the 'Bou after an air show.