Noel Ford 1942-2019

Noel with daughter Sara at Nottingham’s Big Grin Cartoon Festival 2003. Photo © Pete Dredge Pete Dredge writes: It’s a cruel irony that it is only when someone passes  that the outpourings of love, praise and acknowledgement spill out from friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Such has been the response to the sudden and unexpected death […]

Laughter as a Political Tool

The excellent and courageous Malaysian cartoonist Zunar (Zulkiflee Ulhaque) recently gave a talk entitled ‘Laughter as a Political Tool’ at the Institute of Advanced Studies, University College London. There was also an accompanying exhibition of his campaigning cartoon work. Zunar speaking at the event (pictures of him in handcuffs featured heavily as he’s frequently been arrested) […]

Hector Breeze RIP

Cartoon from Private Eye – A Cartoon History Rupert Besley writes: The sad news of the passing of Hector Breeze not long after celebrating his 90th birthday, has, unsurprisingly, brought in a flood of tributes from fellow cartoonists, all recognising the greatness of the man along with the warmth, charm and wit of his cartoons. […]

John Jensen 1930-2018

John with a ‘selfie’ which he did for an exhibition at the cartoon archive, Kent University. Photo © Pat Jensen Sadly, it has been reported that John Jensen has passed away at the sprightly age of 88. John was a well respected and fondly thought of member of the cartoon community. He was a supreme and very versatile draughtsman.  John […]

The PCO has a new Chairleg

After a very successful tenure as PCO Chairleg the venerable Bill Stott has decided to step down to spend more time with Joan Baez and his Jaguar XK8 – happily Bill will remain on the committee. Step forward Clive Goddard, who will be fitting into Bill’s Chairleg trousers. Clive needs no introduction but here’s one anyway penned by great […]

Re:Mona exhibition

Glenn Marshall writes: I’ve long been a Mona Lisa obsessive, now I’ve come up with a cunning way to get others to join in. Along with Helen Wilde and Terry Sole of One New Street Gallery I’ve just hung the ‘Mona Lisa – Not Funny’ exhibition as a side-show to the excellent Herne Bay Cartoon […]

Opinion: The cartoonist and the editor

Following the news that one of the UK’s mass market national newspapers had removed its weekday editorial cartoonist we asked Andy Davey to write about the strange relationship that lies at the heart of such jobs. For the UK cartoonist, working outside of the beneficence of a major newspaper brings benefits and troubles; editorial freedom […]

Opinion: Illustration is easier than cartooning

When it was suggested by the editor that I should write a piece to the statement, “Illustration is easier than cartooning”. I thought he also ought to reverse the notion and ask an illustrator too. Trouble is, I’m not an illustrator so know little of their strange and arcane ways. Actually, that’s not entirely true. […]

The artist as cartoonist

Review: David Shrigley: Brain Activity at the Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, London A vexed question of categorisation arises when it comes to the artist David Shrigley: Is he a cartoonist? He and many art critics appear reluctant to use the term, but there’s no doubt that black and white line drawings, many of which are designed […]