Two political cartoon exhibitions open in London next week, at the Chris Beetles Gallery and the Political Cartoon Gallery.

PeterBrookes: The Best of Times, above, is at the Chris Beetles Gallery from Monday (October 12) until October 31. More than 100 of Brookes’s most recent cartoons from The Times will be on display. Signed copies of the book accompanying the show are available from the gallery.

The Chris Beetles Gallery, at 8 and 10 Ryder Street, St James’s (nearest Tube Green Park or Piccadilly Circus) is open Mon-Sat, 10am–5.30pm.

Drawings by Peter Brookes also feature in Cameron in Caricature, an exhibition of cartoons on the Tory leader David Cameron is at the Political Cartoon Gallery from next Tuesday (October 13) until December 24.

Cameron’s infamous Twitter faux pas, as seen by Morten Morland

The exhibition of 60 original cartoons charts the fortunes of Cameron since he became leader in December 2005. It will feature cartoons by political cartoonists such as Martin Rowson, Steve Bell, Morten Morland, Dave Brown, Peter Schrank, Ingram Pinn and Andy Davey.

The Political Cartoon Gallery, 32 Store Street, is open Mon-Fri 9.30am–5.30pm and Sat 11.30am–5.30pm.

Prudence and Stability, by Dave Brown, after Dignity and Impudence by Edwin Landseer (1839)

The Independent today features a new article by cartoonist Dave Brown, about his exhibition Rogues’ Gallery: More Misused Masterpieces which is currently at the Political Cartoon Gallery in London.

Dave Brown’s take on William Blake’s Newton

Dave Brown’s new exhibition, Rogues’ Gallery: More Misused Masterpieces, is at the Political Cartoon Gallery in London from tomorrow (June 17) until September 19.

It is the second Rogues’ Gallery show and sees Dave Brown once again channelling the spirits of the Old Masters as they guide his paintbrush across the broad canvas of 21st century politics.

A book will accompany the show, which collects 76 images from the long-running series, seen weekly in The Independent.

The Political Cartoon Gallery, at 32 Store Street, London, is open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and on Saturdays between 11.30am – 5.30pm.

Leslie Illingworth by Trog

PCOer John Jensen writes on cartoonists Wally Fawkes (Trog) and Leslie Illingworth:

Two great cartoonists were seen recently at Tim Benson’s Political Cartoon Gallery. One of them was dead, the other elderly but very much alive. Wally Fawkes ‘TROG’, a wonderful caricaturist, was paying his respects to an old friend, the late Leslie Illingworth (1902-79) whose drawings were on display in a new exhibition. Tim Benson’s book – Illingworth, political cartoons from the Daily Mail 1939-69 – was also making its debut.

TROG is no longer drawing and for the cruellest of reasons: his eyes have let him down. This is a tragedy for Wally and a loss to the many people who appreciate and love his skill. I’ve known his work since the early 50s and known him personally, but slightly, for more than forty years. Yet, in company with many people who ‘know’ Wally, I barely know him at all. He doesn’t mind making a display of himself when trumpeting his jazz, but when it comes to drawing he rarely puts in an appearance, refuses to make speeches let alone give a talk or lecture. When he does turn up he is invariably a quiet presence and, for some of us, far too modest. But that modesty doesn’t derive from uncertainty: Wally knows his worth, he just doesn’t shout about it. His qualities speak for him. Unlike his jazz,Wally’s drawing is not spontaneous nor is it laboured. Instead, his caricatures result from observation and analysis of his subjects: forensic dissections.

Three collections of his work have been published none of which do him justice though they are better than nothing. First, from Canada, Trog, the Cartoonist of the Year, Le Pavillon International de l’Humour, Montreal, 1976; The World of Trog, Robson Books, 1977, and finally, Trog, Forty Graphic Years, Fourth Estate 1987. All in black-and-white. All lacking colour! Colour is one of Wally’s strengths.

Leslie Illingworth would have been pleased Wally turned up for the occasion. They were old friends. Leslie is generally considered to be the last of the great pen-draughtsmen in the Punch, Victorian tradition. Sad, therefore, that none of his drawing for Punch appear in Tim Benson’s selection. This is not for the want of trying, but circumstances said No. Draper Hill a collector of Illingworth’s vintage originals, and author of the definitive James Gillray biography, died recently. He had been ill for quite a while and uncontactable. A future volume, perhaps, in due course? Leslie, like Wally, was a wonderful colourist. If Illingworth had a fault, and he had, it was that power and emotion were in thrall to his precise draughtsmanship. That said, it is the penwork, the superb scraper-board cartoons and his colour illustrations that remain to be admired in the pages of Punch and, when possible, collected.

Illingworth was the kindest of men. Too generous sometimes. His Welsh accent was beguiling and his huge bushy eyebrows were the only alarming thing about him.

The exhibition of cartoons by Leslie Illingworth continues at the Political Cartoon Gallery, 32 Store Street, London WC1E 7BS. You can contact them at 020 7580 1114 or info@politicalcartoon.co.uk.

You can read more of John Jensen’s contributions to Bloghorn here.

The exhibition celebrating the life and work of the Daily Mail cartoonist Leslie Illingworth was opened on Tuesday evening at the Political Cartoon Gallery in London by celebrated cartoonist and artist Ralph Steadman.

Leslie Gilbert Illingworth (1902 – 1979) was perhaps one of the last great practitioners of penmanship to take up political cartooning. This book is not only a biography of one of the twentieth century’s most important cartoonists, but also a visual and detailed chronicle of thirty years of history through roughly three hundred cartoons that were originally published in the Daily Mail.

The Political Cartoon Gallery is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm and on Saturdays between 11am – 5.30pm. Phone Dr Tim Benson on 01923 242769 for further details or email him at info@politicalcartoon.co.uk

UPDATED: Christian Adams has a write up of the opening night here

There are many fine exhibitions to see in London at the moment, all have been covered in detail here on the Bloghorn. Here’s a round-up in “last chance to see” order.

Barry Fantoni – Public Eye, Private Eye, above, cartoons and paintings, at the Thomas Williams Fine Art Gallery, Old Bond Street. Open 10am – 6pm, Monday to Friday. Until May 22

Posy Simmonds’ original artwork from the 1970s to the 1990s at the new offices of Guardian News and Media, Kings Place, 90 York Way. Open daily from 10am – 6 pm, admission free. Until June 4

The Definitive Thelwell at the Chris Beetles Gallery, 8 and 10 Ryder Street, St James’s. Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5.30pm. Until June 6

Yankee Doodles! Barack Obama in Cartoons, above (cartoon by Christian Adams), at the Political Cartoon Gallery, 32 Store Street. Open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and on Saturdays between 11.30am – 5.30pm. Until June 13

Maggie! Maggie! Maggie! – Margaret Thatcher, Mother of the Nation or Monster from the Blue Lagoon at the Cartoon Museum, 35 Little Russell Street, Bloomsbury. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10.30am to 5.30pm and Sundays 12pm to 5.30pm. Until July 26

Bloghorn can report London’s Political Cartoon Gallery is not going to be closing, contrary to reports in the capital’s Metro newspaper.

According to the Metro, the cartoon gallery, which is the only display space in the world dedicated to the art of the editorial cartoon, is facing closure because of soaring rents and collapsing demand.

But, talking to Bloghorn, gallery owner Tim Benson said the Metro story was confused about a simple renegotiation of the business lease on the premises.

The gallery opened five years ago, and is currently hosting the exhibition Browned Off, featuring cartoons on Gordon Brown’s first 18 months as Prime Minister.

Cartoon courtesy of The Political Cartoon Gallery and Copyright of Peter Brookes of The Times.

Gordon Brown cartoon by Morten Morland

The Political Cartoon Gallery’s Tory Blues exhibition has now closed so, in the interests of balance, attention is turned to the Labour Party.
Browned Off! A cartoon exhibition on the first 18 months of Gordon Brown as Prime Minister, opens at the gallery on Wednesday (January 21) and runs until March 14.

The show will feature Britain’s top political cartoonists, such as Peter Brookes, Steve Bell, Dave Brown, Nicholas Garland and Christian Adams, and include PCOers Martin Rowson, Morten Morland, Andy Davey and Matt Buck.

Gordon Brown cartoon by Andy Davey

The Political Cartoon Gallery, at 32 Store Street, London, is open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and on Saturdays between 11.30am – 5.30pm.

The PCO: Great British cartoon talent
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PCOer Morten Morland won the Political Cartoon Society’s cartoonist of the year yesterday. Bloghorn is publishing one of Morten’s Post-it note caricatures of Gordon Brown above.

Bloghorn’s alter ego, and the current chair leg of the PCO, Andy Davey said:

It’s great that Morten has won this. He’s one of the best cartoonists working in the UK. The judges commended his immediately recognisable style and use of unusual perspective – I’d second that. And he does it all with only one real outing in the UK media per week – watch Mondays in The Times newspaper.

Steve Bell, of The Guardian, won best single image of the Year, for something like this and Peter Shrank of The Independent on Sunday was runner-up.

Morten has a word at his blog.

Christian Adams has a report here too.

The PCO: Great British cartoon talent
Subscribe to The Foghorn – our print cartoon magazine

An exhibition called Tory Blues: A Cartoon History of the Conservative Party opens today (October 21) at the Political Cartoon Gallery in London and runs until January 7, 2009.

It features original political cartoons charting the history of the Conservative Party from Benjamin Disraeli, through the likes of Balfour, Baldwin, Churchill, Thatcher and Major, to today’s Party Leader, David Cameron.

Included, for the very first time on display, are original cartoons covering both the Party’s election victories and defeats as well as important events in the history of Britain’s most successful political party.

The exhibition consists of 60 original cartoons by leading cartoonists both past and present including work by Sir John Tenniel, Sir Francis Carruthers Gould, Sidney Strube, Sir David Low, Leslie Illingworth, Trog, JAK, Michael Cummings, Nick Garland, Ronald Searle, Steve Bell, Chris Riddell, Paul Thomas Dave Brown, Peter Schrank, Martin Rowson and Peter Brookes among many others.

The exhibition is to be opened by the former Conservative MP Mathew Parris. A book by Alan Mumford entitled Tory Blues will accompany the show.

The Political Cartoon Gallery, at 32 Store Street, London, is open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and on Saturdays between 11.30am – 5.30pm.

UPDATED: 22nd October 2008.
Telegraph cartoonist Christian Adams has a write-up on the exhibition opening night here

The PCO: Great British cartoon talent