Allons-y, time travellers and art aficionados! Weston Museum is all set to take you on a nostalgia-filled ride with Adventures in Time and Space – 60 Years of Doctor Who Art, opening on Saturday 21st October, in time for the show’s 60th anniversary.
Celebrating the show’s whopping six decades of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey greatness, this free exhibition, which will run until January, promises to be a treat for all those who’ve shared an adventure with the Doctor. It will feature the largest collection of original and digital art from and about the programme ever shown in one location to date
Hold onto your sonic screwdrivers as we journey back to the roots of the longest-running Sci-Fi extravaganza known to humanity. From the classic era that graced our screens from 1963 to 1989, to the modern reboot that’s been stealing our hearts since 2005, this exhibition is a heartwarming journey for Who fans of all generations.
Expect to be greeted by the images of familiar faces of the Doctors we’ve cherished through the years – from the stern charm of William Hartnell to the iconic scarf-swirling of Tom Baker, the cheeky charm of David Tennant, the ground-breaking brilliance of Jodie Whittaker, and with the excitement of the new Ncuti Gatwa. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Doctor Who affair without our favourite villains – the Daleks, Cybermen, and a host of creatures that have given the Doctor a run for their money across time and space.
The exhibition unfolds like the pages of a well-worn book, displaying iconic book covers, a blast from the past with those VHS video covers we all remember (oh, the nostalgia!), annuals, comics, and graphic novels that have kept us hooked.
To add a sprinkle of that quintessential Doctor Who magic, there’s even a painting that made its debut on the show itself.
The team behind this exhibition have dived into the TARDIS of artistic archives, rounding up an exceptional collection from private art collectors and dedicated fans who’ve lovingly held onto these visual treasures. Marvel, for example, at the original cover art of the very first Doctor Who annual from way back in 1965 – the colours as vivid as a freshly regenerated Time Lord.
The organisers have joined forces with Doctor Who’s very own artistic time-travellers, securing their prized works from their dusty vaults and bringing them to life with high-resolution digital wizardry.
This artistic ensemble features legends like Andrew Skilleter, whose art has become as timeless as the Doctor’s adventures, and the late Chris Achilleos, the genius behind the iconic covers of the Target Doctor Who novels.
There’s also Colin Howard, the artist responsible for those captivating video covers, who has donated a large selection of his remaining VHS Originals and DWM covers; the legendary Dave Gibbons of Marvel Comics fame, the first artist to draw the Doctor for Doctor Who Weekly, now Doctor Who Magazine, pop culture chronicler Jeff Cummins, and storyboard extraordinaire Mike Collins, from Bad Wolf Studios. The line-up continues with Jessica Martin, Bill Donohoe, David McAllister, Lee Sullivan, Sophie Leong, Eren Angiolini, and the dynamic duo Anthony Dry and Stuart Crouch.
‘Don’t blink’ for an expedition that transcends time and space, as Weston Museum celebrates the legacy of Doctor Who through a captivating display of artistry. Plus, many Doctor Who-related events, including The Doctor Who Scarf Project – Knitting Starter Day, that will take place during the run of the exhibition.
The exhibition was organised by the South West Heritage Trust and Events of Wonder.
• Adventures in Time and Space – 60 Years of Doctor Who Art, Saturday 21st October 2023 – 27th January 2024, Weston Museum, Burlington Street, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1PR | Web: westonmuseum.org | Free
Please make a note of the Museum’s opening days and times, the Christmas closure period and that it is closed Thursday 26th October. To make the most of your visit please arrive before 15.00
There are no tickets for the exhibition, but at busy times the Museum will operate a ‘one in one out’ policy. Entry is free.
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: Art and Illustration, British Comics, Comics, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions, Other Worlds, Science Fiction, Television
In Pictures: Adventures in Time and Space – 60 Years of Doctor Who Art at Weston Museum