AFTER 25 years in the business, cartoonist Greg Smith says he has been blessed with a “wonderful assortment of political craniums” to draw, but his favourite by far is Premier Colin Barnett.
“His nickname ‘The Emperor’ has allowed me to draw him in all his regal attire, and his Luna Park smile is manna from cartooning heaven,” he said.
Known best for his satirical caricatures, Smithy has worked as an editorial cartoonist for more than 25 years for the Daily News, Community Newspaper Group and the Sunday Times.
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READ NOWSmithy will showcase some of his 4000 editorial cartoons over his long career in a Margaret River exhibition over the Easter long weekend.
The artist said Cheeky Monkey Brewery in Margaret River seemed like the “perfect fit” for a satirical exhibition.
“I decided to pack it up and take it to some regional areas,” he said.
“It’s a long way to go to check out a cartoon display , but if people are heading down that way for Easter or the school holidays and are looking for something a bit different, drop in for a squiz and hopefully a laugh.”
The Kingsley resident said from a young age he started caricaturing his teachers and drawing anything he could find.
“My heroes were cartoonists such as Rigby, Mitchell and Pickering and I spent hours at the State Library studying all of Rigby’s old Daily News cartoons,” he said
“I’ve always loved satire and the idea of using humour as an effective vehicle to deliver a particular point of view.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Smithy’s Cheeky Lil’ Cartoon Exhibition
When: showing until April 25
Where: The Cheeky Monkey Brewery, Margaret River