Sean Phillips cover for Fatale Book 3 is just one of the stunning pieces of art being auctioned to raise funds for future Lakes International Comic Art Festival projects. Bid Here

In June 2012 London hosted the Olympics. But in November 2015 there’s something even bigger coming to the capital. Yes, it’s the Lakes International Comic Art Festival Grand Auction of Original Comic Art, featuring works by the likes of Ian Churchill, Hunt Emerson, Dave Gibbons, Jamie Hewlett, Sean Phillips, Bryan Talbot, the team from VIZ and more – with art being added to the auction over the next few weeks.

Proceeds from the auction – which will be run by Jonathan Ross, side by side with Kendal’s Tim Farron MP (and Lib Dem leader) will help to raise funds for future Lakes International Comic Art Festival projects after this year’s upcoming event (16th – 18th October 2015) in Kendal.

Over the last few weeks and months some of the greatest artists currently working in comics have been scouring their archives and generously donating dozens of gorgeous pieces of artwork for our auction. We have items ranging from brief doodles by great masters to the original sketches behind cover images that have sold in their thousands all over the world.

The auction will take place on 24th November at Orbital Comics in London, and the catalogue is live online right now, where you can also bid if you can’t make the actual event (places are very limited!)

The auction will be running both online and in the room simultaneously, so you can log in no matter where you are. Just register to bid here , and you’re all set. In fact it’s a good idea to register whether you’re planning to come on the night or not.

Here are just some of the items already being offered…

Page 23 of The Secret Service #1 by Dave Gibbons. Bid Here

An authentic Jamie Hewlett art fragment. Bid Here

Hunt Emerson’s cartoon comment on the 2015 UK General Election. Bid Here

“Little Fluffy Gigolo Pelu” artist proof, art by Junko Mizuno. Bid Here

A page from Bryan Talbot’s Grandville Mon Amour. Bid Here

Also being offered (so far) are artworks by Charlie Adlard (Walking Dead), Dan Berry, Mark Buckingham (Fables), Ian Churchill (Revenge), Joe Decie, Jonathan Edwards (Tank Girl), Oliver East, Duncan Fegredo (Hellboy), Bill Morrison, Darick Robertson (The Boys), Posy Simmonds (Gemma Bovery), the VIZ artists (Roger Mellie, Fat Slags), Joost Swarte (Jopo de Pogo) and Jeff Smith (Bone) – with more art that will be drawn at the Festival itself to be added to the growing list.

Luke Dicicco, Project Manager of Choose South Cumbria, one of the Festival’s partners, is thrilled to be supporting the auction.

“We know South Cumbria has the perfect work life balance and we’re really excited to be taking that message on the road and direct to London, ” he said. “Events such as the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival showcase the cultural vibrancy of the area, and this can be a crucial part of the mix when people consider relocating to somewhere.

“We’re looking forward to a fun night and to shedding a new light on just what South Cumbria has to offer.”

•  Visit it at https://www.proxibid.com/asp/Catalog.asp?aid=101175. And do check back regularly because we have new works coming in all the time

• A huge line up of both British and globe-spanning international comics talent is being lined up for this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival, taking place 16th – 18th October 2015. Visit the web site at www.comicartfestival.com

International guests include award-winning Canadian artist Darwyn Cooke, Simpsons Comics artist Bill Morrison (thanks to the National Cartoonists Society in the US), Boulet, Winshluss, Benoit Peeters and Antoine Cossé and Japanese Shojo manga artist Akiko Hatsu.

British guests include Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell, 24 Hour Marathon organiser and artist Dan Berry; graphic novelist Joe Decie, who is working on a longform project thanks to funding from the Lakes Festival; Oliver East, author of titles such as Trains Are Mint, who is working on another project with the Festival following the success of The Homesick Truant’s Cumbrian Yarn; internationally-acclaimed cartoonist Hunt Emerson, creator of Calculus Cat;  author David Gaffney, who has recently been working with Dan Berry on a new graphic novel, The Three Rooms in Valerie’s Head; award winning comics writer Kieron Gillen; and UK-based stitcher and prolific tea drinker Felt Mistress AKA Louise Evans, who has created a range of one-off bespoke creatures with her partner, illustrator Jonathan Edwards, including Poblin, the Festival’s mascot; and the internationally-acclaimed illustrator and graphic novelist Dave McKean.

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is the only one of its kind in the UK, taking place in one of the UK’s most beautiful areas – the English Lake District in the North West of the country, in the market town of Kendal. Modelled on European-style festivals, such as Angoulême in France, it takes over the whole town for a weekend of comic art. Its aim is to celebrate the whole spectrum of comic art, inspiring existing comic art fans and creators and, it hopes, generating new audiences and creators too. It invests in creators through a commissioning programme and has an emphasis on developing international collaborations.

John Freeman

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, Auctions, Comic Art, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds

Tags: Auction News, Bryan Talbot, Choose South Cumbria, Dave Gibbons, downthetubes News, Hunt Emerson, Ian Churchill, Jamie Hewlett, Jonathan Ross, Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Orbital Comics, Sean Phillips, Tim Farron, Viz