Vale Ray Sharp, brilliant art director, musician + industry character: “The most knowledgeable, funny, and fascinating person I’ll ever know”
The ad industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of Ray Sharp, one of Australia’s finest art directors and ad industry characters.
Born in the UK, Sharp attended Harrow Art School, and The Royal College of Art London, graduating with an MA in Graphic Communication. He then commenced a 35-year advertising career working as a senior art director in London, South Africa, and eventually Australia at a range of international advertising agencies including Leo Burnett, JWT, McCann-Erickson, DMB&B and FCB. Sharp worked as art / creative director on many of their major accounts including Woolworths, Subaru, P&G, and Kellogg’s.
Leaving agency work 20 years ago, he joined the advertising service company Portfolio & Reel that he and wife Penny Parker had begun in 1995, supplying information and material to the advertising and commercial film production industry.
Portfolio & Reel went digital in the early 2000s, with comprehensive listings of ad agencies and production companies in Australia and New Zealand, plus listings for freelance producers and directors. In 2017 Penny and Ray retired to live most of the time at their beach house on the NSW South Coast, handing over Portfolio & Reel to Campaign Brief.
In an Instagram post daughter Lily Parker Sharp paid tribute to her father:
Thank you, Dad, for teaching me what really matters in life:
Music — from Zappa to Coltrane
Film — from Lynch to Godard
Politics — from Marx to Chomsky
Art — from Hockney to Goya
Comedy — from Monty Python to Bill Hicks
You’ve always been the most knowledgeable, funny, and fascinating person I’ll ever know. I’m going to miss learning from you, laughing with you, and hugging you.
I love you so much.
In a Facebook post, fellow former JWT art director Brian Jones, now living in London says: “Oh no, this is really sad news, big hugs to all the women in his life, especially Penny. Although now back in London, I loved my little chats with Razor on Facebook. He certainly had a full life, from studying at the Royal College in Kensington to moving to Kensington in Sydney. He obviously couldn’t find a suburb called Chiswick. Loved our chats about music especially, Razor had a great collection at home and was always willing to listen to something new. Wish I could be there with you to celebrate his life with a few beers, I know the playlist is gonna be a cracker. RIP Razor, really happy to know you did it your way.”
Also on Facebook, John Wilson adds: “Adrienne and I are devastated to hear of our dear mate’s passing. We had some wonderful times with Ray and Penny. On top of that, Ray was one of the best art directors I worked with. Unfortunately all of us are of a certain age these days.”
Says photographer and director Greg Desmond: “That is sad news. Ray was a great guy, a lot of fun at lunches and a fabulous Elvis impersonator. My deepest condolences to Penny and the girls.”
And from KJ Borger: “Sending you all my heartfelt condolences to you and the family. Penny & Ray were always kind to me, and remain two of my most revered bastions of the industry, as I knew it. It is good to know that Ray went swiftly and without pain, on his own terms, and with dignity.”
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There will be a celebration of Ray’s life with a memorial on Friday 18th July.
8 Comments
Penny and Ray were old mates even though I had not seen them for years. Memories keep flooding back – you two were always such fun. Much, much sympathy Pen, It’s a real bugger that we are all getting so old – dropping way too frequently these days
Ray was an industry Legend. Sending my sincere condolences and love to Penny, Lily, Chloe x
Such sad news, Ray will be sorely missed. My condolences to the family x
Such sad news. My condolences to Penny, Lily & Chloe. I was fortunate to work with Ray for many years. Not only was he a true gentleman, but he was effortlessly brilliant, wildly creative, and very good-humoured. He was the kind of person who made the world less boring and much more possible. Blessed to have met him! You’ll be missed….
Sad, sad day Raymond , we shared a floor at Masius in the early 80’s, handy for the Staiton Hotel and Grape escape and even got some work done, Sun’s over the yardarm somewhere in the world, you’d say! great days. Cndolences Pen, Chloe and Lily xxx
I was lucky enough to work with Razor for a year or two back in the DMB&B days. Nature’s gentleman and a brilliant creative with an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things artistic. Deepest sympathies to Penny and his beloved girls.
Like any great AD Ray left a strong mark not just on paper and and film but on all the people he worked with. Everyone above has said it all. All so true. It was daily elevating to work with him.
Ray was a true gent. Not a bad bone and in his body. Really sad to hear of his passing. Now, I can’t remember why I’d drop in to Portfolio & Reel in their various offices in Surry Hills but I do remember the smiles and friendship and the sense of welcome, always making time for a chat. My sincere condolences to Penny and the girls(!), I know you miss Ray and his joyful presence.