EXTRACTS: Illustrators Issue 4 © 2013 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

42 Chris McEwan illustrato s editor, Peter Richardson, t lks to the artist about the experiences, ideas and influences that helped to shape his perennially inventive, and idiosyncratic illustration. CM: I grew up in Brighton and by the age of eleven I was at Brighton Art College. They did Saturday morning classes, where I met one or two people who are still in the business. I knew what I wanted to do, and I left school early to pursue my dream, but I ended up returning to school to get the necessary qualifications before becoming a full time student at the age of seventeen. I had my eighteenth birthday party, and I was probably the youngest person ever to attend Brighton Art College as a full time degree course student. By that time I had discovered Eagle comics. We were only allowed one comic, and that was it. While I was reading ‘The Life of Churchill’ (‘The Happy Warrior’) I was hit round the head with that idea: “Hang-on! somebody’s job is to draw this”. I didn’t know how to do it, but I had words with my excellent art teacher, Geoffrey Lintott, who was supporting me, and he said “Yes, you go to Brighton Art College”. So I went full time in 1963 to 1967, and had people like John Lord to support me. You probably know him? PR: John was my tutor and a real inspiration. CM: Well, he was wonderful. He gave me an idea of what might be possible. ABOVE: McEwan’s lifelong love affair with robots is evident in these two card and print designs. FACING PAGE: A promotional poster for Tony Cuthbert’s Animation Studio. Cuthbert, ran a Soho – based animation studio producing work for film and TV for clients both in the UK and internationally.