From dashing spy to Vogue illustrator: The double life of Mr. Stonehouse

Jake Wallis Simons, for CNN

Updated 1901 GMT (0301 HKT) January 3, 2015

Brian Stonehouse in his military uniform (left), and in disguise as Michel Chapuis, a French art student, in occupied France in 1942 (right). He survived German concentration camps to become a leading fashion illustrator after the War.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – Brian Stonehouse in his military uniform (left), and in disguise as Michel Chapuis, a French art student, in occupied France in 1942 (right). He survived German concentration camps to become a leading fashion illustrator after the War.
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Stonehouse was a spy during the Second World War, and in 1952 became the first new illustrator taken on by Vogue since 1939.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – Stonehouse was a spy during the Second World War, and in 1952 became the first new illustrator taken on by Vogue since 1939.
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His extraordinary visual memory made him both a good spy and a good artist.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – His extraordinary visual memory made him both a good spy and a good artist.
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Before the War he had ambitions to become an artist, but when hostilities broke out this was put on hold.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – Before the War he had ambitions to become an artist, but when hostilities broke out this was put on hold.
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He joined the Army and was recognized by his commanding officer as having potential as a spy, perhaps due to his artistic eye and outsider personality.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – He joined the Army and was recognized by his commanding officer as having potential as a spy, perhaps due to his artistic eye and outsider personality.
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He was selected for the secretive Special Operations Executive and trained as a radio operator. He was given the obvious cover: an art student.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – He was selected for the secretive Special Operations Executive and trained as a radio operator. He was given the obvious cover: an art student.
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He was disguised as Michel Chapuis, a French art student, and parachuted into occupied France.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – He was disguised as Michel Chapuis, a French art student, and parachuted into occupied France.
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His cover story was that he was on assignment for Vogue. Extraordinarily enough, this would later come true.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – His cover story was that he was on assignment for Vogue. Extraordinarily enough, this would later come true.
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He evaded capture for a year, but was eventually arrested by the Gestapo, and spent the last two-and-a-half years of the War in captivity.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – He evaded capture for a year, but was eventually arrested by the Gestapo, and spent the last two-and-a-half years of the War in captivity.
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Stonehouse survived three Vichy prisons and five Nazi concentration camps, including the notorious Dachau
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – Stonehouse survived three Vichy prisons and five Nazi concentration camps, including the notorious Dachau
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Part of the reason for his survival was his artistic talent: he volunteered to sketch the guards' wives and girlfriends, gaining advantages in the process.
Photos: brian stonehouse illustration
Tinker, tailor, artist, spy – Part of the reason for his survival was his artistic talent: he volunteered to sketch the guards' wives and girlfriends, gaining advantages in the process.
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