Talking Art and Comics To Lancashire!

By John Freeman on June 30, 2016

BBC Radio Lancashire’s Sally Nadeen interviews Lancaster-based fine artist Sandy Gardner. Photo via Sandy Gardner

For those of you who missed it, you can still tune into my interview about comics on BBC Radio Lancashire, recorded yesterday at Lancaster’s Robert Gillow public house, taken over for most of the day to promote local Lancaster voices, including artist Sandy Gardner, musician Sue Parish and the amazing “Gillow Ukuleleans“, who performed a wonderful version of “Bring Me Sunshine” just as the heavens opened in force, which you can watch on the BBC Radio Lancashire Facebook page (it will cheer you up!)

Art by Sandy Gardner

My interview is at the 52 minute mark, but ace artist Sandy Gardner is on before me, in two slots about 20 minutes in and 40 minutes in from the start of the show, so don’t miss her.

Based in Lancaster, Sandy (who has won several national and international awards, including the Adobe Illustration Award, the Transworld Bookart prize and the Red Eye Capture Manchester prize) was interviewed about her latest project “The Art of Flying”, a series of custom printed wearable artworks featuring full arms length wing expanses inspired by birds living in local habitats. Her designs will be launched in August at The Southport Flower Show where she will be exhibiting with the art and craft group ‘Meet the Makers’.

“My designs are currently being printed by Standfast and Barracks of Lancaster,” says Sandy, who also creates jewellery and runs art workshops in the city. “I can’t wait to see the finished product!”

My interview is a short item covering interest in modern graphic novels, modern comics like The Beano – and broadcaster Brett Davison‘s childhood memories of Whizzer & Chips and other fondly-remembered news stand comics. Brett asked me some great questions and it was a smashing opportunity to talk up comics, plug downthetubes and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival line-up.

BBC Radio Lancashire’s Brett Davison interviews me about comics and I hopefully make some sense. Photo: Anthony Mark Cutter

The photo above is by Anthony Mark Cutter, owner of the fab Robert Gillow pub where Radio Lancashire were broadcasting from. My thanks to Sue Parish for setting up the opportunity and Brett and fellow broadcaster Sally Naden and team for making it so much fun.

• Listen to the Sally Nadeen and Brett Davison Show for 29th June 2016 here (available for 29 days) – and cheer yourself up with “Bring Me Sunshine” here on Facebook

• Find out more about Sandy Gardner’s art at www.sandygardner.co.uk | Buy her prints and other artworks on Etsy | Find Sandy on Facebook

• Find out more about musician Sue Parish at http://sueparish.com

• The Robert Gillow public house is online at www.pubfoodlancaster.co.uk – but the actual pub is more interesting to visit!

About the Author
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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.

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