October 2026

I finally had an operation which was quick, but the aftermath has been slow so far, and I'm not really feeling any different without the plural effusion than with the pleural effusion. But we hope that will begin to change before long and I'll be well.
I've continued to work and on Saturday I spent the day in Belfast with a How to Draw or two followed by a Q&A and signing session, much the same as I'll be doing on Tuesday in Chester. In the meantime is 3 days at MCM London, my home from home recently, and some more drawing.
Here I am in Belfast, struck by how tall I look in the full length mirror. Happens sometimes.

More Dates For The Diary!

London Film & Comic Con events have been cancelled for the rest of the year and next Spring- the next one I'll be at is June 2027. 

But before that, I'll be at the following events (and more, stay tuned!)

• Birmingham MCM at the NEC August 7,8,9.
• Glasgow Comic Con September 25,26,27.
• Plymouth November 1,2.

2026 News

Firstly, some Comic Con and events news:

April 25 Northwich Memorial hall
May 2 Warrington, Scotts Pops
May 16 Coventry Comic Con 
May 17 Liverpool Geek Bazaar Liner Hotel
May 22-24 MCM ExCel London 
June 6  Mr Jones Watches Neal St London
June 13-14 London Film & Comic Con Olympia 
June 28 Macc-Pow! (Sunday 10.30-11.30 )
July 4 Nantwich Con

You can meet me there and get drawings or chat about Beano. Colourist Niki will join me at most of these events except London. There will be more in the second half of the year!

Second, other news: I had to cancel a handful of shows for health reasons- since December I've had an unfortunately-named "Well Pneumonia" which is not really well, it's just not as debilitating or dangerous as regular pneumonia- BUT it IS pneumonia and I've not been able to fulfill all dates. However, it's apparently either getting better very very slowly or I'll have further procedures and either way eventually I should be back to "normal" -for me.

Third, some book news! There's another "Boomic" or two from Beano Studios by me this year and next year, and then... my autobiograhic novel! Yup! Here's a little preview, I'm working hard to finish it!

Some Firsts For Me (and Nika!)

A few Comic Con firsts, in my 10th year of doing them! As well as doing cons in London, Birmingham and Liverpool amongst others later this year, I'll be in Luton, Llangollen, Chorley and Plymouth, so anyone in those towns who has ever wanted to see the Beano cartoonist visit- now's your chance! Tip: Be early, as we always get busy at these shows!

 (Note Nika will only be at Chorley and Wales,) 

 

 

Suit and tie and all that

I'd never been to Buckingham Palace, not even for an MBE but I was invited to attend the prize winners day out of the BBC's 500 Words competition. I went with my Beano colleague Alina and we met quite a few interesting people including the Silver prize winner who's story I had illustrated. That drawing attracted the attention of Charlie Higson the comic actor/writer which was lucky because I'd hoped to bump into him one day to tell him how much I liked his acting in the Radio series 'Start/Stop' by Jack Docherty. We had a lovely chat ta.

And there was all the Royal stuff. And canapes, and so forth, and a car all the way from Buck House to Richmond where I was off to afterwards!
That tie was one I'd had for thirty years and I thought it appropriate as it was a bunch of elephants (in the room)! The shoes are unique Dr Marten's designed by and gifted to me by my pal Claire Russell.

Photo on Fleet Street

This is September 18th 2024 when myself and an illustrator/colourist/actor/model/local councillor friend Pau visited the Fleet Street HQ of Beano Studios for amongst other things, a publicity photo of me. Pau joined me for a couple of pictures for posterity, as you can see, she's more famous than me for a start.

 

151 Not Out

Since I began, at my colourist, assistant, driver, colleague and friend Nika's urging, 9 years ago, I have attended 151 different Comic Cons (and about 20 other events). This coming weekend is London Olympia, one of the roughly 25% of shows I do alone (well, not alone, but without Nika) So here we are in 2016 and again just this past weekend in Bury, where, thanks to John Webster, we had a terrific Sunday. Click on the photos to see them bigger if you dare!

2024 Upcoming dates!

 

**  shows with Nika !

Back on the road again! More to be announced later!
2, 3 March  London Olympia

**  9, 10 March  Westpoint, Exeter **

**  23 March   Carlisle Comic Con **

**  20 April  Northwich, Cheshire **

**  27, 28 April   Blackpool Winter Gardens **

**  6 May  (Bank Holiday Monday) Buxton **

**  18, 19 May   Barry Island Comic Con **

24, 25, 26 May   London MCM Excel

**  1 June   Nantwich, Cheshire **

22 June  Brighton

5, 6, 7 July  London Olympia

**  13 July  Gloucester Comic Con **

** 27-28 July Manchester MegaConLive **

25-26 August  Morecambe, Lancs (Bank Holiday)

** 28-29 September  Wakefield, Yorkshire **

** 5 October  Neston, Wirral **

Back on the road- on the rails- in the air- on the water

So far this year we've done Glasgow Paisley, Bristol*, London Kensington (twice), London Battersea, London Excel (twice), London Islington Design Centre, Crosby Liverpool*, Cardiff, Glasgow ACME*, Dundee*, Morecambe, Blackpool, Derby, Warrington*, Manchester, Bowness-on-Windemere*, Stockport*, Enniskillen and Exeter* (twice*)- but that's not all!
Here are our upcoming shows, asterisked ones feature Nika my colour artist too!

More to be announced in 2024!

11-12 November    Harrogate

18-19 November   *Telford

1-3 December   Birmingham MCM

2023 Update

 

BBC Breakfast on January 21st had a tribute to the late David Sutherland OBE and, as the only available-to-go-to-Salford Media City at 6am on a freezing cold Saturday, I was selected to appear live. 

Back to normal the following weekend, when some of we Beano cartoonists and writers had our annual Christmas dinner, traditionally a month late, in Birmingham.

And soon I'll be out in the world again doing conventions and signings and talkings and drawings and so come along if you want, I'll be there. 

As dates are officially announced, I'll link to them but in the meantime, pencil in these towns and cities and these Saturdays and or Sundays (and a Friday or three) just so you don't miss anything!

18 February    Glasgow 

4-5 March    London 

11-12 March   Exeter 

18 March   Bristol 

25 March  Liverpool

10 April   Morecambe 

15-16 April   Blackpool 

28-30 April   London 

13 May     Manchester

26-28 May    London 

3-4 June   Enniskillen 

7-9 July    London

6 August   Derby

...and others, to be announced later!