Celebrating Doctor Who’s plastic terror, the Autons

By John Freeman on 23 May 2026 • ( 0 )

Artist Neil Cole, curator of The Museum of Classic SciFi in Allendale Northumberland, has revealed one of his latest works – a traditionally rendered, original illustration of a Daffodil Man Auton.

The original art, prompting memories of one of Doctor Who’s most memorable 1970s adventures, Terror of the Autons, which also saw the debut of Roger Delgado as The Master, is now in Australia to become part of Mark Dunne’s Whoseum.

The illustration is one of the many new hand rendered drawings for the second volume of Neil’s latest book, It Belongs in a Museum, focusing on The Third Doctor. (Volume One, centred on The Secind Doctor, is available here)

For this lavish second volume, Neil is researching as many of the era’s surviving props and costumes from the series, from all over the globe.

*An unproofed interim version of a spread from It Belongs in a Museum Volume Two by Neil Cole*

“For each of the Pertwee stories I have hand drawn a brand new illustration, and written an overview of what special items were made for it,” he teased earlier this month, “and in the second ‘Museum’ section of the book present the artefacts themselves, with photos kindly shared by collectors from around the world.

“I truly think this is shaping into something quite special! Still a lot to do as I’m researching, writing, designing and illustrating the tome.”

Neil’s new book will automatically sent to fans who become a Friend of the Museum by making a donation to its running costs (find out more here), but you can also find out how to get a copy by emailing classicscifimuseum@gmail.com. All proceeds go into running the museum and keeping its lights on.

The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi, based at Osborne House, Allendale Town, Hexham, Northumberland, is a meticulously curated small museum, packed with fascinating unique items from the worlds of science-fiction history and classic era Doctor Who.

Museum of Classic SciFi Curator Neil Cole - and friends! — *Museum of Classic SciFi Curator Neil Cole – and friends!*

Despite its “small museum” tag, you will actually find far more exhibits on display than in many much larger establishments – and every item has been painstakingly researched, preserved and displayed by museum creator/curator Neil Cole, a life-long science-fiction fan, artist and musician.

Becoming a Friend of the Museum not only means will you be helping the team meet the museum’s running costs – whilst also enabling Neil to continue restoring and preserving classic props and for the future – you also receive a plethora of exciting, exclusive benefits that includes free entry.

• The Museum of Classic SciFi is at Osborne House, Allendale Town, Hexham NE47 9BJ | Web: museumofclassicsci-fi.com | Facebook | More on becoming a Friend of the Museum here – or simply email classicscifimuseum@gmail.com

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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as 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.