Leslie Harding (cartoonist)
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Leslie Harding (cartoonist) | |
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| Born | Leslie Clifford Harding 1914 London |
| Died | 1991 Portsmouth, UK |
| Citizenship | British |
| Alma mater | Leyton School of Art |
| Occupation | Cartoonist |
Leslie Clifford Harding (1914–1991), also known professionally by the pen names Styx and Wimsey, was a British cartoonist active from the 1940s to the 1980s. He was a prolific contributor to newspapers, magazines, comics, and advertising during the post-war period.
Early life and education
Harding was born in London in 1914. He studied at Leyton School of Art and began working as a professional cartoonist at the age of 18.[1]
Career
Harding’s cartoons appeared in several major British publications, including the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Daily Sketch, Weekend, and the Daily Express. He also worked under the pseudonyms Styx and Wimsey, producing both single-panel cartoons and comic strips.
In the 1970s and 1980s, he was a regular contributor to Shoot! magazine, where his cartoons were recognised for their dynamic visual style. He was the creator of the comic strip Paws, which featured a mischievous dog and ran in Krazy and later Whizzer and Chips, followed by spin-offs such as Claws the Cat and Caws the Crow.
In addition to print work, Harding produced advertising illustrations and drew for children's comics.
Mentorship of Reg Smythe
Harding mentored the cartoonist Reg Smythe, creator of the comic strip Andy Capp. Both cartoonists submitted work through the Gilbert Agency in the early 1950s. Smythe, who admired Harding’s work as Styx, sought him out and received informal critique and encouragement. This mentorship coincided with Smythe’s early success at the Daily Mirror, where he began full-time work in 1954.[2][3][4]
Professional affiliations
Harding was a founding member of the Cartoonists' Club of Great Britain, attending its inaugural meeting on 1 April 1960. During the meeting, he proposed the formation of a cartoonists' cricket team, volunteering to serve as organiser and captain.[5]
Death and legacy
Harding died in Portsmouth, UK in 1991.[6] Though not widely known today, his work remains recognised among collectors and historians of mid-20th-century British cartooning.
References
- ↑ "Leslie Clifford Harding". ArtBiogs. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ↑ Slade, Paul (2015). The Real Story of Reg Smythe: Creator of Andy Capp. Dancing with Ghosts. ISBN 978-0993453007.
- ↑ Gregson, Keith (23 September 2004). "Smyth, Reginald [pseud. Reg Smythe] (1917–1998), cartoonist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70012. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ Catriona Wrottesley (15 June 1998). "Obituaries: Reg Smythe". The Scotsman. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ↑ "Club History". Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ↑ "Styx Dies". Daily Mirror. 14 May 1991. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
External links
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