Archibald Knox (1864-1933), designer of the London Liberty store, was the fifth child of cabinetmaker William Knox and Ann Carmichael. The family settled on the Isle of Man, the entire infrastructure of which is connected with the sea and fishing. William went to work for a company that made herring nets and canvas. William was a good businessman and later founded his own firm, William Knox’s Engineering Works, in the steamboat and ferry business, powering the local fishing fleet.
Knox was a pioneer in industrial electric lighting on the Isle of Man and the first car on the island was owned by the Knox family. The eldest sons followed in the footsteps of their father, and only Archibald devoted himself to art. However, the family’s engineering skills influenced Knox’s style of work, and his designs were often made in the style of ready-made blueprints.
Knox attended the Douglas School of Art on the Isle of Man. From childhood and throughout his life, he showed an interest in the early history of the island and Celtic art, studied carved Celtic and Scandinavian stone crosses on the Isle of Man, which date from about 500 to 1200 AD. Knox began teaching at the Douglas School of Art in 1884 while still an undergraduate. On Sundays, Knox went out of town to paint.
In 1896 or 1897 Knox worked and studied with the innovative designer Christopher Dresser in London. And in 1897, Knox began teaching at the Redhill School of Art. And in the same year, he began working at Silver Studio, which was engaged in design for the famous Liberty store. In Knox’s work you will see both nature motifs and Celtic ornaments – all that reflected his deep interest in the natural world in relation to spiritual life, history and early Manx Celtic art.