From newspaper cartoonist to full time artist, Meet Frank Boyle

From newspaper cartoonist to full time artist, Meet Frank Boyle

Introduce us to you and your brand!

I studied illustration at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, then worked in the art department of DC Thomson & co. for a year before heading to London. I did freelance work there and gradually became more of a cartoonist than an illustrator. Humour has always played a part in my work and when I returned to Scotland I produced cartoons for several Scottish newspapers. Between 1999 and 2015 I was cartoonist of the Edinburgh Evening News, producing a daily topical cartoon called Boyling Point. Recently I've been doing more drawing and painting, particularly of buildings in Glasgow

How has your brand/work developed since you began?

Working for newspapers to a tight deadline taught me to work quickly. Over the years I've become more confident in drawing under pressure

What are your main inspirations?

Among my favourite cartoonists/artists are Dudley D Watkins, Giles, Ronald Searle, W Heath Robinson, John Glashan, Hogarth, Gillray, Bruegel, George Grosz.

What do you consider to be your most popular product? Why do you think it resonates with people?

My spoof Reservoir Dogs poster has been very popular. Its called 'Reservoir Mogs' and features cats instead of men. When I've been in the SDX shop I've heard customers burst out laughing when they see it, which is always a good sign!

What piece are you the proudest of?

I can't think of one item in particular but sometimes a piece turns out better than I had hoped for and that's always pleasing

What would you consider to be the most challenging aspect about being a working artist/designer?

Just making a living is tough enough. Political cartoonists have almost disappeared from newspapers in Scotland. I had to find other outlets for my work and SDX has been one of them.

"Political cartoonists have almost disappeared from newspapers in Scotland."

Do you have any past accomplishments you wish to share?

I twice won Cartoonist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards in 2003 and 2006 for my work in the Edinburgh Evening News. Three books of my newspaper cartoons have been published and there was a major exhibition of my work at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh in 2008 I'm proud to have suggested a plaque be put up in honour of Dudley D Watkins, the cartoonist of the Broons, Oor Wullie, Desperate Dan and much more. It can be seen on the wall of his house in Broughty Ferry,Dundee Sir Timothy Clifford, then director of the National Galleries of Scotland, bought one of my cartoons and it's now part of the drawings collection in the gallery.

How did you find out about SDX? And what made you apply to sell with us?

I read an article about it and paid a visit to the shop in Leith. When I heard that the Glasgow branch was opening, I decided to get involved. It sounded like a great idea for artists to sell their work outside the gallery system

What have you found to be the most challenging aspect to your business since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020?

The closure of the SDX shop for some time was a blow. I worked on other projects and sold work online through my own shop at frankboyleart.bigcartel.com

What do you hope to gain from working with SDX going forward?

To introduce new items of and better publicise my work

If you could share just one piece of advice to aspiring artists/designers who want to make a living from their creative talents, what would you tell them?

It can be very tough but the internet has opened up new outlets that weren't there when I started. You have to have a great sense of confidence in yourself that this is what you want to do.

And finally, help share some motivation with your favourite inspirational advise or quote!

Nike already has it ..'Just do it'
Thank you to Frank Boyle for participating in our Featured Maker blog post, you can find his work in Glasgow and online!

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