Phil Baines was born in Kendal, Westmorland in 1958. He graduated from St Martin's School of Art in 1985 and the Royal College of Art in 1987, and has been a Senior Lecturer at Central Saint Martin's College of Art & Design since 1991. He is author and designer of Type & typography, (with Andrew Haslam, 2002); and Signs, lettering in the environment, (with Catherine Dixon, 2003), both published by Laurence King. He is also a freelance graphic designer for clients including the Crafts Council, Goethe-Institut London, Matt's Gallery and Monotype Typography. His work often includes the use of his own typefaces, three of which have been released for general use: CanYou? (1991) and Ushaw (1994) by Neville Brody's Fuse, and Vere Dignum by Linotype in 2003.