One of Honeysett’s editorial cartoons for the Evening Standard, published in 1979.
We’re sorry to report the death of veteran and much-admired Hastings-based cartoonist Martin Honeysett, whose work has appeared in many publications, including Private Eye, Radio Times, Punch, The Oldie, The Spectator, The Sunday Telegraph, London’s Evening Standard and The Observer.
Described as “one of the funniest – and I mean finny – cartoonists ever,” in a tribute yesterday from fellow cartoonist Hunt Emerson, several creators and cartoon-related organisations have also acknowledged his amazing talent, including fellow Private Eye cartoonist Royston Robertson, who described Martin as “a truly great cartoonist and a lovely bloke” on Twitter; and Martin Rowson, praising him as “one of the truly great gag cartoonists“.
“A lovely man and a brilliant cartoonist,” commented the organisers of the Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival. “We will miss him.”
As well as his memorable cartoon work, drawn in a uniquely scratchy style, with an acerbic eye for barbed but strangely gentle wit, Martin, who saw cartooning as a form of journalism, also had several books published and has illustrated many others, both for children and adults, including Bert Feggs Nasty Book by Terry Jones and Michael Palin published in 1974, The Queen and I by Sue Townsend and a series of books by the poet Ivor Cutler.
“He was so good at drawing a kind of moth-eaten seediness,” recalls VIZ cartoonist Davey Jones. “Somehow suited Ivor Cutler perfectly.”
He won several awards at International Cartoon Festivals in Europe and Japan (he was a visiting professor at the Kyoto Seika University, Faculty of Art, Japan, from 2005 to 2007), and both his cartoons and paintings have appeared in a number of public exhibitions.
Web Links
An interview with Martin Honeysett in 2008 after winning an international competition, beating off 1200 other entries.
• Official web site: www.martinhoneysett.com
• Martin Honeysett was active on Twitter until August 2014
• Martin Honeysett: Punch collection
• Martin Honeysett on Phosphor (licensed cartoon sales and artwork)
• Martin Honeysett cartoons at the British Cartoon Archive
• Martin Honeysett Gallery at the Political Cartoon Gallery
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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, Comic Art, Featured News, Obituaries