Naomi Ozaniec

Fergus Hall, a native of Paisley, Scotland, is an artist recognized for his work as a painter and illustrator. He also had a career as a high school teacher. Hall gained significant recognition for designing the original tarot deck used in the James Bond movie "Live and Let Die." This deck, known as the "Tarot of the Witches," has seen multiple releases and was accompanied by a guide written by Stuart Kaplan.

His artistic contributions extend beyond tarot; Hall's paintings were featured on the album covers for King Crimson's "A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson" and "The Compact King Crimson." Three of these paintings were purchased by Robert Fripp. During the period he worked on the film tarot, Hall was employed as a teacher at St. Aelred's Junior High in Glenburn, Paisley. He later held art teaching positions at Trinity High School in Renfrew and St. Cuthbert's High School in Johnstone. In 1982, his children's book "Groundsel" was published and received an award for best picture book in Japan.

Fergus Hall's career spans painting and illustration, with his artwork exhibited in various locations, including the Portal Gallery in London. He is most widely recognized for his creation of the "Tarot of the Witches" deck, which was commissioned for the James Bond film "Live and Let Die." This distinctive tarot set has been reissued in several editions, often paired with a guidebook authored by Stuart Kaplan, a notable figure in the tarot community. Hall's visual artistry also graced the music scene, with his paintings being used for the album sleeves of King Crimson's "A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson" and "The Compact King Crimson." The specific works titled "The Landscape Player," "Earth," and "Il Divino" were acquired by Robert Fripp from the Portal Gallery in the mid-1970s.

Parallel to his artistic endeavors, Fergus Hall dedicated a portion of his professional life to education. While engaged in creating the tarot for "Live and Let Die," he served as a teacher at St. Aelred's Junior High in Glenburn, Paisley. His teaching career continued in secondary education, where he worked as an art teacher at Trinity High School in Renfrew and later at St. Cuthbert's High School in Johnstone. Beyond his visual arts and teaching, Hall also ventured into children's literature. In 1982, his book "Groundsel" was published by Jonathan Cape. This work was recognized internationally, earning a prize for best picture book in Japan, highlighting his versatility as a creator.