Joseph Clayton Clarke (1857–1937) worked under the pseudonym 'Kyd'. Born on the Isle of Man, Clarke had many occupations during his lifetime, including designer of cigarette cards and postcards, and as a fore-edge painter principally specializing in characters from the works of Charles Dickens. 'Kyd' emulated the larger-than-life characters that he portrayed, dressing in a flamboyant style for the period.
Clarke's illustrations can be found in the collections of the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Charles Dickens Museum and the University of Texas at Austin.
