Colin Whittock: an appreciation

© Colin Whittock, Private Eye. Rupert Besley writes: A ‘Midlands legend’, in the words of the Birmingham Mail, Colin Whittock was the professional cartoonist par excellence. He began on the city’s Evening Mail in 1969. One Friday, the paper’s longstanding cartoonist left almost without notice, having decided to cash in his pension pot for a […]
PCO Cartoon Awards Night

Photo © Neil Martin A special report from our man in the projection room with the ruffled Vienetta shirt, Glenn Marshall. Now officially the creator of the world’s funniest cartoon ever.* (*Subs, please check) Additional bits from Clive Goddard (who failed to win Best Jacket). Reporting from the glitzy Professional Cartoonists’ Organisation Awards 2024 (AKA […]
Trumpmageddon – Cartoon Special

© Mark ‘Chicane’ Winter If there are any industries that should be thrilled at four more years of Trump it’s the cartoon profession and purveys of orange ink. I’ve been reposting many of these cartoons and caricatures across social media in the run-up to the US election expecting I’d be able to sway the American […]
ffolkes art

Dean Patterson writes: Why I’m championing the genius of Michael ffolkes. Although probably not entirely forgotten, Michael ffolkes (purposely lowercase) will always it seems have the epitaph that reads, ‘Martin Honeysett threw a cake over his head.’ This story stems from a Private Eye 21st birthday bash, where before it got a chance to be […]
PCO Cartoon Review of the Year 2023

Cartoon © Steve Bright Glenn Marshall writes: OK, lock yourselves in, this is going to be a rocky ride and 2023 was a particularly rocky ride for Rishi Sunak. The above prescient cartoon was by Brighty at the beginning of the year in The Sun. Cartoon © Dean Patterson Mystic deAn also predicted the turbulence the world […]
The Great British Colouring Book

Clive with the colouring book hot off the press Clive Goddard writes: Back in July 2023 cartoons hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, had ordered the removal of children’s cartoon murals from the walls of two migrant centres in Kent. The colourful, cuddly Disney characters were apparently sending out […]
Tony Husband – A Tribute in Cartoons

All at PCO were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Tony Husband, one of the cartoon world’s all time greats. There have already been numerous fine tributes written about Tony – here’s a great memoriam by John Freeman on Down The Tubes comics-related blog. Another excellent testimonial with wonderful photos and video […]
Bill Tidy (1933-2023) – A Tribute

Drawing of ‘The Cloggies’ from Bill’s long running Private Eye strip. Rupert Besley writes: It’s funny what sticks in the memory. First kiss, first day at new school, first pint, first dive into a pool… To which I’d add, first sight of a Bill Tidy cartoon. 1965. We’d just moved house and my brother came […]
The PCO Cartoon Review of the Year 2022

Another year, another cartoon review featuring work from PCO members. As the world moves on from one disaster to another what more can you ask for than an emergency cartoon service attempting to defibrillate you at the start of the new year! Cartoon © Dean Patterson deAn set the tone for the year with this […]