Top artist Graham Bleathman, well known for his work on Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray, is giving a Special Talk at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum later this month, tying in with their new Gerry Anderson-inspired summer exhibition, 54321FAB!
Graham is best known for producing cross-section, “cutaway” illustrations of spacecraft, vehicles and locations, his work published in numerous books, including the Dan Dare: Spacefleet Operations Manual, Inside the World of Gerry Anderson, and Thunderbirds FAB Cross-sections. He’s also provided over 300 covers for DC Thomson’s People’s Friend.
Graham started illustrating for fan magazines in the 1980s, and since then has his illustrations have appeared in a number of books, magazines and comics. Graham’s other work includes historical subjects, alongside production art on animated releases of Doctor Who and Dad’s Army episodes.
A master of the technical illustration, join Graham for a fascinating insight as he talks about his experiences working on these amazing projects.
Graham has created a fantastic new work “Worcester: 2066“, commissioned especially for the Art Gallery & Museum’s summer exhibition, 54321FAB!, which opens tomorrow, Saturday 4th July and runs until Sunday 6th September 2026.
Graham’s talk will be followed by a meet and greet where will be autographing and sketching in the exhibition. There’ll even be appearances from Captain Scarlet himself and other favourite characters!
Spotlight Talk | Graham Bleathman | Master of the Cutaway and meet and greet |11am – 12 noon, Saturday 18th July 2026 | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum Tickets: £10 for the talk; free entry to the exhibition | Book now
A3 prints and postcards of Graham’s new painting are available from the Worcester Museum & Art Gallery shop
Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum: Summer Exhibition – 54321FAB!
Thunderbirds and friends are coming to Worcester!
Nostalgia for the 1960s has never been stronger than in this incredible display of original puppets, models, art and memorabilia from the much-loved 1960s TV shows of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.
Made possible with the support of Fanderson, The official Gerry and Sylvia Anderson Appreciation Society, this exhibition is an incredible display of original puppets, models, art and memorabilia from the much-loved 1960s TV shows of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.
Visitors will be able to revisit their childhood favourites including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Stingray and more, and will have an unprecedented opportunity to see screen-used original puppets from the shows.
Original puppets including Lady Penelope and Joe 90 will be on display, having been painstakingly restored to their original condition as filmed in the 1960s. Other characters which no longer exist in their original form, such as the heroic Thunderbirds pilots, have been rebuilt from original moulds and materials to create new working replica puppets.
The exhibition also features models of iconic vehicles such as Fireball XL5, Stingray and the Thunderbirds craft.
Original comic and production design art will also be in the exhibition, whilst a huge collection of 1960s toys and memorabilia will be on show to take visitors on a FAB trip down memory lane.
“We are so pleased to show this brand new artwork which celebrates 54321FAB! coming to Worcester!,” says Museums Worcestershire Senior Curator Deborah Fox. “The exhibition will appeal to fans of all ages and we’re sure it will be a big hit with visitors throughout the summer holidays.”
• 54321FAB runs from Saturday 4 July – Sunday 6 September 2026 | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum | Free entry, donations welcome.
The exhibition is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00am – 4.00pm, and Sunday, 10.00am – 3.00pm. Last entry is one hour before closing.
Every one of your kind donations supports the Art Gallery and Museum to bring fabulous art and exhibitions to your doorstep
• Check out museumsworcestershire.org.uk and our social media channels for up-to-date news and information on the exhibition and a fun FAB-themed programme of events and activities
Talks and Events
• Bite-size Talk | 54321! Counting down to a Great Exhibition! | Tuesday 14 July, 2 – 2.30pm. £4.95
• Museum After Hours | 54321! ‘Standby for action, we are about to launch’ | Friday 24 July, 6.30 – 9pm. FREE
• Spotlight Talk | Graham Bleathman – Master of the Cutaway + meet and greet | Saturday 18 July, 11am – 12noon. £10
• Spotlight Talk | Marc Silk – The Voice of Your Imagination + meet and greet | Saturday 1 August, 11am – 12noon. £10
• Museum After Hours: FAB! ‘Anything can happen in the next half hour’ | Friday 21 August, 6.30 – 9pm. FREE
• Spotlight Talk | Marc Silk – The Voice of Your Imagination + meet and greet | Saturday 29 August, 11am – 12noon. £10
Family Fun!
• Bags of Fun – FAB Creations | Saturday 4 July to Sunday 6 September (except Mondays). £2.50
• Family Trail – International Rescue | Saturday 4 July to Sunday 6 September (except Mondays). £1
• smARTies | Mini Makers | Thursdays 9 July and 16 July. £5.50
• Get Arty: 3…2…1…Make! | Every Thursday from 23 July to 27 August. £5.50
• Family Fun | FAB Fridays! | Every Friday from 24 July to 28 August. £5.50
• smARTies | Mini Makers | Thursday 3 September. £5.50
• Check out museumsworcestershire.org.uk and our social media channels for up-to-date news and information on the exhibition and a fun FAB-themed programme of events and activities
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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.
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