We’re sorry to belatedly report the passing of comic artist and illustrator Gerald Palmer, who passed away peacefully at his Jersey home on Wednesday, 16th August, 2017, aged 82.
Born in 1935 in Jersey, Gerald was encouraged toward an artistic career at school and by fellow artist Edmund Blampied. He went on to study at Portsmouth College of Art, gaining his National Diploma in Design in 1955.
His immense talent gained him a career as an Editorial Art Assistant with Hulton Press in Fleet Street, later going on to join a team illustrating books and magazines in the UK and Europe. He was one of the team who worked on “Dan Dare” at Bayford Lodge for Eagle, credited as working on stories such as “Safari in Space” and “Trip to Trouble“.
He is credited with 19 different cutaways in Eagle, the majority of which were in Volumes 12 and 13 in 1961 and 1962 and while his subjects were as diverse as an oil refinery and Big Ben they consisted mainly of historic locomotives and then modern jet aircraft.
In recent years Gerald provided some terrific Dan Dare centre spreads for Spaceship Away.
He also worked in book illustration work, on titles such as art for A Jersey Childhood by Doris Carter and, as Jeremy Briggs noted on Bear Alley back in 2007, two of Collins “Orbit Books” – Planes Book One and Rockets and Spacecraft Book Two.
In later years Gerald focused on fine art, working in various media, on subjects ranging from portraits and aviation to landscapes, seascapes and still life. A member of the Guild of Aviation Artists, his work was regularly exhibited and is much sought after.
He also produced postage stamp designs for the Jersey Post Office, and is regarded as one of the island’s best-known artists, alongside Edmund Blampied, Ian Rolls and Eric Walker. In 1980, he and fellow artist Diana Bowen launched the ‘Portelet Exhibition’ which has become an annual event.
Alongside his art, his interests included designing and building various model aircraft, from skimmers to gliders, skin diving, sail boarding and sea fishing.
He leaves his wife, Val, children Fiona and Chris and grand children Rachelle, Josh, Alex and Kath.
• Gerald Palmer, born 1935, died 16th August, 2017
Web Links
• Studio Eighteen: Gerald Palmer Gallery
• Art by Gerald Palmer on public display in Jersey can be found here on This Island Wiki
• Buy Signed prints of paintings of Jersey by Gerald Palmer and Diana Bowen
Notice of his death appeared in the Jersey Evening Post on 21st August 2017. With thanks to Jeremy Briggs for news of Gerald’s passing
All art © Gerald Palmer except Dan Dare © 2017 Dan Dare Corporation
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Obituaries