During the first half of the 20th century, the Railway Companies were (like Shell and London Transport) among the great patrons of poster design. Fine artists were often commissioned, and their distinguished work brought prestige to the newly-formed companies. Norman Wilkinson (1878-1971) was a famous marine painter and landscape artist, who also made a great contribution to the art of camouflage. He designed posters for the London & North Eastern Railway, the London Midland & Scottish Railway, and the Southern Railway. They showed the delights of travel and the beauties of places served by the railway network. Advertising the linking ferry systems, as in this poster for 'England to Ireland via Holyhead', was an important part of the marketing campaigns.