John Higgins terrific original art featuring Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor from Doctor Who, painted back in 1988, is currently being sold on eBay – the seller opening bidding at £5000.
Fully hand painted by John, later signed by Sylvester, the art was originally commissioned for the cover of Doctor Who Magazine Issue 140 back in 1988, the title then published by Marvel UK and edited by one John Freeman. A limited edition poster of the art was also offered for sale through the Magazine.
As I previously wrote for downthetubes, way back in 2008, the final look of the art was different to the art John submitted, after Sylvester McCoy didn’t approve the likeness.
Cue my first ever visit as DWM editor to the recording of the series, then taking place in the unusual surroundings of BBC Elstree’s car park as a result of studio closures at TV Centre. How we achieved that agreed final look is a fun story in itself…
• eBay: Doctor Who Magazine Issue 140 Original Art Signed By Actor and Artist
• Hanging around as The Doctor! A Trip to BBC Elstree recalled
• Check out my small album of Sylvester McCoy photographs on Flickr
• The Doctor Who Wiki – Doctor Who Magazine Issue 140 Guide
• Shannon Sullivan’s Production Guide to The Greatest Show In The Galaxy
• Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy – Recording Documents (BBC, PDF)
With thanks to Chris Howarth
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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.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Auctions, British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, Doctor Who, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Television
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