Ronald Searle at 90

Just a few drawings, but how do you choose just a few!

One of the artists I admired as a student, encountering his work firstly as a child (unknowingly) when watching the credits of the movie 'Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines' and being more fascinated by the credit drawings themselves rather than the film itself - except when Terry Thomas was on screen. Then later as a student at Brighton, where I discovered the sheer variety of work, from the very powerful prisoner of war drawings to the satirical editorial work. At that same time I was also inspired by Ralph Steadman and Gerald's Scarfes work. All you have to do is look at their early drawings to see the debt owed to Mr Searle while they were finding their own drawing language at the beginning of their careers. You can see more at the Ronald Searle tribute blog, at the Chris Beetle Gallery and there's also a Channel 4 News interview with the man himself over at Youtube. Fantastic to see the video of him raising a glass, in good health and still passionate about work.