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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

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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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