William Papas
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Papas was a political cartoonist
and caricaturist
, book illustrator
and watercolourist. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked for The Guardian
, The Sunday Times
and Punch
. His work has won international acclaim and is included in many private and corporate collections around the world.
. His father, Kostas Papas, was a successful Greek immigrant, one of the town's leading citizens.
At the age of 15, he ran away from home to join the South African Air Force
, and flew coastal missions as a tail gunner
during the war. He later studied art at Johannesburg Art School, then at Beckenham School of Art in Kent, and at St Martin's
in London.
His first published cartoon appeared in the Cape Times
in 1951, and his first illustrated book, Under the Table Cloth, was published in 1952. He later freelanced in Johannesburg
as artist-cum-reporter, notably covering Nelson Mandela
's treason trial in 1958.
In 1959 he returned to Britain with his family, his wife Aroon McConnell and daughter Peta, their two sons Warren & Vollmer, settling in Kent and joining the staff of The Guardian. In 1963 he took over from David Low as political cartoonist. He also drew comic strips and produced pictorial reports, covering, for example, Cyprus in 1965 and the Six-Day War
in 1967. Between 1964 and 1972 he also produced cartoons for the Sunday Times and Punch.
In this period also began his association with Oxford University Press
, writing and illustrating books for both children and adults. He was twice nominated for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal
for children's book illustration. As an illustrator he worked mostly in pen and ink, and once said "I prefer writing and illustrating children's books, especially on social and political themes. It is a form of elongated cartooning."
He was divorced in 1969 and in 1970 married his second wife, Tessa Pares. He spent the next ten years in Greece, then moved to Geneva
and in 1984 to Oregon
, continuing to paint and illustrate. In Oregon he also ran his own art gallery and drew an evocative series of pen-and-ink and watercolour pictures of American cities, later published as Papas' America and Papas' Portland among others.
Papas died at Hotnarko Lake, British Columbia
, on 19 June 2000, following a flying accident.
, the Centre for the Study of Cartoons and Caricature at the University of Kent
, the Vorres Museum
(Athens) and the Old City Museum (Jerusalem).
Alan Coren
, former editor of Punch, described him as "a highly distinguished original artist, whose work, I firmly believe, is not only of significance of its time, but will make an important contribution to the journalistic history of that time".
Editorial cartoon
An editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is an illustration containing a commentary that usually relates to current events or personalities....
and caricaturist
Caricature
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...
, book illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and watercolourist. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
and Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
. His work has won international acclaim and is included in many private and corporate collections around the world.
Biography
Papas was born in Ermelo, South Africa and was educated at Pretoria Boys High SchoolPretoria Boys High School
Pretoria Boys High School, also known as Boys High or PBHS, is a public, fee charging, English medium high school for boys located in Brooklyn, Pretoria, in the Gauteng province of South Africa....
. His father, Kostas Papas, was a successful Greek immigrant, one of the town's leading citizens.
At the age of 15, he ran away from home to join the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
, and flew coastal missions as a tail gunner
Tail gunner
A tail gunner or rear gunner is a crewman on a military aircraft who functions as a gunner defending against enemy fighter attacks from the rear, or "tail", of the plane. The tail gunner operates a flexible machine gun emplacement on either the top or tail end of the aircraft with a generally...
during the war. He later studied art at Johannesburg Art School, then at Beckenham School of Art in Kent, and at St Martin's
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
in London.
His first published cartoon appeared in the Cape Times
Cape Times
The Cape Times is an English language morning newspaper owned by Independent News & Media and published in Cape Town, South Africa. The first edition of the newspaper was published on 27 March 1876 by then editor Frederick York St Leger...
in 1951, and his first illustrated book, Under the Table Cloth, was published in 1952. He later freelanced in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
as artist-cum-reporter, notably covering Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
's treason trial in 1958.
In 1959 he returned to Britain with his family, his wife Aroon McConnell and daughter Peta, their two sons Warren & Vollmer, settling in Kent and joining the staff of The Guardian. In 1963 he took over from David Low as political cartoonist. He also drew comic strips and produced pictorial reports, covering, for example, Cyprus in 1965 and the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
in 1967. Between 1964 and 1972 he also produced cartoons for the Sunday Times and Punch.
In this period also began his association with Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, writing and illustrating books for both children and adults. He was twice nominated for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal
Kate Greenaway Medal
The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
for children's book illustration. As an illustrator he worked mostly in pen and ink, and once said "I prefer writing and illustrating children's books, especially on social and political themes. It is a form of elongated cartooning."
He was divorced in 1969 and in 1970 married his second wife, Tessa Pares. He spent the next ten years in Greece, then moved to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and in 1984 to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, continuing to paint and illustrate. In Oregon he also ran his own art gallery and drew an evocative series of pen-and-ink and watercolour pictures of American cities, later published as Papas' America and Papas' Portland among others.
Papas died at Hotnarko Lake, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, on 19 June 2000, following a flying accident.
Recognition
Cartoons by Papas were among those chosen for the 1970 National Portrait Gallery exhibition "Drawn and Quartered: the world of the British newspaper cartoon 1720-1970", and examples of his work are held in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert MuseumVictoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
, the Centre for the Study of Cartoons and Caricature at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
, the Vorres Museum
Vorres Museum
The Vorres Museum is a diachronic museum of folk and contemporary art in Paiania of the East Attica Prefecture, in Greece. Its grounds cover including several buildings, gardens and courtyards. Its collection includes over 6000 pieces covering 4000 years of Greek history and art...
(Athens) and the Old City Museum (Jerusalem).
Alan Coren
Alan Coren
Alan Coren was an English humorist, writer and satirist who was well known as a regular panellist on the BBC radio quiz The News Quiz and a team captain on BBC television's Call My Bluff...
, former editor of Punch, described him as "a highly distinguished original artist, whose work, I firmly believe, is not only of significance of its time, but will make an important contribution to the journalistic history of that time".
Written and illustrated
- Under the Table Cloth (1952)
- The Press (1964)
- The Law (1964)
- The Story of Mr. Nero (1965)
- Tasso (1966)
- No Mules (1967)
- Life Is One Big Bag of Nails (1968)
- A Letter from India (1968)
- A Letter from Israel (1968)
- Taresh the Tea Planter (1968)
- People of Old Jerusalem (1980)
- Papas' America (1987)
- Papas' Portland (1995)
- Papas' Greece (1997)
- Instant Greek (1999)
Illustrated
- Charles Downing: Tales of the Hodja (1964)
- Rene GuillotRené GuillotRené Guillot was a French children's author who lived, worked and travelled in French Africa.After studying science, he moved to Senegal to work as a teacher, spending over 20 years in Africa...
: The Children of the Wind (1964) - Ruth Manning-SandersRuth Manning-SandersRuth Manning-Sanders was a prolific British poet and author who was perhaps best known for her series of children's books in which she collected and retold fairy tales from all over the world. All told, she published more than 90 books during her lifetime. The dust jacket for A Book of Giants...
: Damian and the Dragon: Modern Greek Folk-TalesDamian and the Dragon: Modern Greek Folk-TalesDamian and the Dragon: Modern Greek Folk-Tales is a 1965 anthology of 21 tales that have been collected and retold by Ruth Manning-Sanders.It is one in a long series of such anthologies by Manning-Sanders...
(1965) - Philip TurnerPhilip TurnerPhilip William Turner is an English author best known for his children's books about the fictional town of Darnley Mills and about the Reverend Septimus Treloar.-Life:...
: The Grange at High ForceThe Grange at High ForceThe Grange at High Force is a children's novel by Philip Turner, published in 1965. It won the Carnegie Medal for that year. It is the second in the author's Darnley Mills series, set in a mill town in the north of England, between the moors and the sea...
(1965) - Andrew SalkeyAndrew SalkeyAndrew Salkey was a novelist, poet, freelance writer and journalist of Jamaican and Haitian origin. Salkey was born in Panama but was raised in Jamaica...
: Earthquake (1965) - Hesba Fay BrinsmeadHesba Fay BrinsmeadHesba Fay Brinsmead was an Australian author of children's books and an environmentalist.-Upbringing:...
: Season of the Briar (1965) & Beat of the City (1966) - H. M. Nahmad: The Peasant and the Donkey: Tales of the Near and Middle East (1968)
- Fynn: Mister God, This Is AnnaMister God, This Is AnnaMister God, This Is Anna is a book by Sydney Hopkins under the pseudonym "Fynn" describing the adventures of Anna, a mischievous yet wise four-year-old who Fynn finds as a runaway. Nineteen-year-old Fynn takes Anna home to his mother who takes her in, though Fynn becomes Anna's main caretaker and...
(1974) - Malcolm MuggeridgeMalcolm MuggeridgeThomas Malcolm Muggeridge was an English journalist, author, media personality, and satirist. During World War II, he was a soldier and a spy...
: In a Valley of This Restless Mind (1977) - Pope John Paul IPope John Paul IJohn Paul I , born Albino Luciani, , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes...
: IllustrissimiIllustrissimiIllustrissimi or To the Illustrious Ones, are a collection of letters written by Pope John Paul I when he was Patriarch of Venice. The letters were originally published in the Italian Christian paper 'Messaggero di S. Antonio' between 1972 and 1975, and published in book form in 1976...
(1978) - C. S. LewisC. S. LewisClive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
: The Screwtape LettersThe Screwtape LettersThe Screwtape Letters is a satirical Christian apologetics novel written in epistolary style by C. S. Lewis, first published in book form in February 1942...
(1979) - Amos OzAmos OzAmos Oz is an Israeli writer, novelist, and journalist. He is also a professor of literature at Ben-Gurion University in Be'er Sheva....
: Soumchi (1980) - Aurelia Smeltz: A Lone Red Apple (1998)