Kevin O’Neill Retrospective at The Illustration Cupboard

koneil A rare chance to see some of UK comics history at the Illustration Cupboard in Bury Street, St James where work by the legendary Kevin O’Neill is on display and available for purchase.

The exhibition runs from 14 July to 8 August and there are some real gems to see.

The launch on 14 July with fizzy drinks and chocolate covered strawberries was attended by a veritable aristocracy of the British comic scene surrounded by Kevin’s artwork from Marshall Law, 2000 AD, Arzach and one piece of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen artwork, which was sadly already sold by the time the exhibition opened, (bad news for us but good for Kevin I am sure).

For those who lived and grew up with 2000AD in the late 70s this a journey back in time with such classic covers as ‘Tube Warrior’ from 1980 (prog 174), inspired by the song Going Underground by the Jam and featuring the first appearance of Nemesis the Warlock and Termight.

Looking at this cover, even though it is uncoloured, transports you back to a time when comics came out every week and there was a buzz to be gained – 2000AD, NME and maybe Fireball/Battle Action every week, with 2000AD being the one that you saved to last to savour the stories and marvel at the writing of such stories as ‘The Cursed Earth’ in Judge Dredd or The Ballad of Halo Jones.

However thats for another posting, the main thing here is to talk about this amazing opportunity for you to see and maybe even own your own Kevin O’Neill artwork.

The pieces range from £850 to £9750 and each and every one of them is a bargain.

The sight of Kevin O’Neill, Alan Moore and Pat Mills all together, all long term collaborators in one way or another, in the gallery added an extra kudos to the evening but go to the gallery and check out the pictures, they will amaze.

If you cant get to the gallery then make sure that you pay a visit to the website for the Illustration Cupboard where you can preview all the artwork on line and, if you want, make a purchase.

The Illustration Cupboard – Kevin O’Neill Exhibition

The Illustration Cupboard

22 Bury St

London

SW1Y 6AL

Gallery Hours:

Monday to Friday: 10am to 6pm

Saturday: 12pm to 5pm

Closed Sunday and Bank holidays

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And incidentally, a clear plug here, if you are interested in comic strips and comic publishing then do check out DS Comics by our very own David Shenton whose work has appeared in the Guardian , Gay News, Building Design, Solicitors’ Journal, Disability Now, Optician and other publications.

Check out his website and you can buy some artwork of your own from him too as well as his highly acclaimed ‘Get Her!’ and regular weekly strips from the ‘The Shentons’. All in one compact site – and if there are any gallery owners that might want to put on an exhibition of David’s work then he has also done illustration as well as comics and comic strips.