Thought Bubble Comics Art Festival

Yay! Very excited to return to Thought Bubble, arguably the UK's best pure comics focused event and one of our favourites. Our comics have been represented at almost every festival including its first Leeds Town Hall basement one way back in, was it really 2007? Gosh that seems so long ago now!

The Festival has evolved greatly over the years and grown into an internationally respected event always with comics and inclusivity at its heart. Much thanks and gratitude goes to retiring Festival Director Lisa Wood (artist Tula Lotay) and her able team who consistently deliver an event to be proud of.

This year will be its third time in Harrogate which from reports, appears to offer the event a natural home within a single venue after outgrowing it's various Leeds iterations. Being as it unfortunately clashed with previous re-arranged event commitments for me in 2019 (Art-Bubble in Copenhagen) and 2021, (Salute in London), this will actually be my first time at the Harrogate event, so I can't wait and am very excited for what new material I am planning to bring with me.

My excitement is only tempered by the fact that the event's popularity meant that several folks have missed out which is testament to the quality of comic work out there at the moment. Fingers-crossed that as many as can from the waiting list will find some joy.

Farewell Mr Benn

Sad news of another British artistic legend, David McKee leaving us. Talented creator of several timeless characters but for those of us of a certain age, Mr Benn will always have a special place, with the following probably my favourite.

See Down The Tubes and the BBC for insightful memoriams.

Colin's Comics Come to Chester!

Hot on the MCM London news is confirmation that I'll also be attending Chester Comic-Con for the very first-time this coming Father's Day, Sunday 19th June 2022!

I'm quite excited about this as it's a local one at the iconic Chester racecourse with a good reputation but although in it's 4th (or even 5th?) year, the dates have always clashed with something, so I've never been able to go before.

I've previously lived and worked close to Chester so used to know it fairly well including it's own Comic shop which helped keep me sane when I first moved down from Scotland all those years ago, so it'll be cool to finally showcase my own comic creations there.

The event appears to be a fun family geared one with a carefully curated small number of pop culture and comic artist guests and attractions so there's something for everyone. With it being Father's Day too, promises to be a fun day out, hopefully see some of you there!

Don't forget to wave if you see me at Chester!

 

A return to London!

As hinted at last time, this season's events calendar is finally getting going and I'm delighted to confirm my return to London this 27th to 29th May as part of MCM's Artist Alley!

MCM London is usually one of the UK's biggest pop culture events attracting massive crowds pre-covid and it's hoped that May will see its 'full-size' return after it's successful (and safe) scaled back event last October. 

October '21's table layout, may look very different in May!

I understand that Artist Alley applications were oversubscribed and some familiar faces have missed out which is a real shame but shows the breadth of talented comic creators and artists out there so hopefully you're in line for a treat if you're able to attend to see what new artistic delights await you!.

Ticket applications and guest announcements can be found at MCM's website.

2022 Comic Event Season Taking Shape!

Aha, well it's taken a wee while and sadly, already had a couple of false starts with cancelled and postponed events but finally the 2022 events season is taking shape!

It's pretty certain that my first event won't now be until May with the (normally) annual Free Comic Book Day event where I'll be joining a small but perfectly formed line-up of talented comic artists & writers at my favourite comic shop, Scott's Pop's & Comics in Warrington!

Last year's delayed event in August was a blast, real fun with a mad couple of hours as, after a quietish start, word got out and Scott's wee shop and invited artists were mobbed by a curious and engaged public, all hungry to discover new comics. It was a welcome relief from the lockdown stresses and for most of us, artists and attendess alike, the first event since 2019!

Time to produce a few more Comic packs?

Please keep and eye on the FCBD participants website to check out if your local comic shop has any plans and if you're anywhere close to Warrington, Scott's facebook page will post further details leading up to the event to tempt you along! 

Further details of confirmed events to follow :)

November 2021's Salute wargaming show in London

Salute was one of my last appearances of 2021

Are We Nearly There Yet?

Sadly the world has changed again these last few weeks and it's hard perhaps to be optimistic about things, but try we must and surely the future will be brighter after these dark days.

On the comics front, I was hoping that events would more or less return to a 'normal' schedule but while some have already taken place, a few of our regulars have postponed to next year or cancelled altogether - including the much loved and respected Edinburgh Comic-Con, which will be greatly missed, thanks to James and his team for all they achieved.

At this time of writing, I think I've only two actual confirmed events for the year ahead with another 3 or 4 applied for, so it's likely to be similiar to last year with a much reduced calendar from the busy heights of 2019. That said, I think everyone is far more appreciative of any that safely do go ahead, as we all cautiously try to get our lives back but sparing thoughts for all those whose lives will no longer be the same again whether through conflict or covid.

A Legend Lost

 

Sad news reached us a few days ago that British Comics Legend Ian Kennedy has left us which has hit many of us hard. Ian's distinctive art style was a major part of our childhood, decorating so many of our favourite comic covers and annuals, Commando, Victor, Warlord and much, much more.

He achieved so much and I really can't do justice to his 70+ year career here, but see John Freeman's Down The Tubes respectful article for a wee taster and several moving tributes.

Ian was one of my - and so many others - childhood art inspirations and it was pure delight when, late  in life he cautiously entered the world of modern comic conventions, allowing me and so many others to meet and thank him for the inspiration he'd provided. 

I was fortunate enough to meet him at his first 'English' event in Birmingham in 2015, arranged and invited by my good friend, and fellow Kennedy fan, Steve Tanner - see the photographic evidence below! Ian was quite taken aback by the warm reception he received from attendess and happily signed and chatted with everyone with modesty, humilty and a smile.

We struck up a casual friendship, being as we were both from the North-East of Scotland, which to my joy led to many happy chats at subsquent conventions and events as Ian embraced his new found 'celebrity'. I was even lucky enough to pop into his home and studio a couple of times which was beyond a thrill, meeting his wife, Gladys, who makes a lovely soup.

I could happily share another dozen or so memories and it's clear from reading everyone's tributes, so could many others. It's so rare that a talented artist genuinely meant so much to so many people and he will be greatly missed.

 

I may share more later but in the meantime here's just a small sample of his exceptional art.

 

Thoughts and love to his family and many friends.