Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Stephen Cartwright
Stephen Cartwright, illustrator 1947-2004
"Cartwright will probably be best remembered for his illustrations in Farmyard Tales, written by Heather Amery, and for his tiny trademark duck, which can be found lurking somewhere in virtually all the pictures."
Sadly , today i learned of steve's death, while talking to one of 'our gang'...the Botch mob..from 1963-4-5. When we wren't on the''Botch'', Jum Johnson's mum used to let us use an upstairs attick as a sort of nightly youth club..playing Bo diddley...Chuck Berry..Little Richard and early Stones and Beatles...not to mention Bob Dylan.
He was a very shy guy in those days, very humble but very talented.He could pick up a piece of paper and draw a masterpiece...from a table, with a cup and saucer on it.(as we had our lunch in Sabinnis...Bolton... so we could smoke away from prying teachers)....i hated him for that!
I have picked up childrens books and exclaimed to my grandchildren.... my mate drew these... the grandaughters pointing to the little duck subtley hidden in a corner. He was dam good. Sadly after i went to catering college, the Botch mob disbanded and i never saw him again.I remember him on his immaculate litte 150cc motorbike, that he maintained so thoroughly....and used to let me ride.I'll miss him...RIP Steve.