Exhibition celebrates cartoonist’s life

(with thanks to Jeremy Briggs): The life of cartoonist Robert T Nixon has been celebrated this summer with an exhibition of his work at the Kirkleatham Museum, near Redcar. The exhbition closes on 31 August so if you live nearby or are having a holiday in the area, why not give it a visit.

Nixon, who worked on comics such as The Beano, Dandy and Whoopee, died six years ago and his daughter, Catherine Nixon, says his family wanted everyone to enjoy his public and private work.

The exhibition includes examples of both his comics work and the landscape drawings he drew privately, along with his fantasy illustrations.

Born in South Bank, Nixon moved to Guisborough with his family in the early 1960s. He worked as a cartoonist for DC Thomson and Fleetway.

"My dad died six years ago and putting on an exhibition of his work was something he had wanted to do, but never got around to it," Catherine, who lives in Saltburn, told local paper The Advertiser. "We just thought it would be a nice thing to do.

"One of the things about my dad's work is that it's so diverse, so, hopefully, there is something for everyone to enjoy."

The exhibition runs until Sun 31st August 2008 at Kirkleatham Museum. Entrance to the Museum is free. Within the gallery is a Comics Workshop area where you can create your own comic strips and design your won comic characters. Or sit in the quiet corner and enjoy our collection of comics and annuals.

• More details about No Boundaries: An exhibition of the work of Robert T Nixon on the Kirkleatham Museum web site
• More about Robert T. Nixon: www.artienne.co.uk/abouttheartist.htm
• Lambiek profile of Robert T. Nixon
• Robert T. Nixon obituary in The Guardian (2002) by Paul Gravett