Alan Wickham describes himself as working class lad made good, who secretly signed-up for night school in Brighton in 1962, unbeknown to his parents.
"They would have been horrified," says Alan, who progressed rapidly.
Despite lacking O-levels, his flair for drawing and design was soon spotted and developed at Eastbourne Art College, "which was the greatest thing to happen to me - and I could wear a college scarf," he adds proudly.
Specialising in graphic design, Alan's ability was soon in demand - for posters, book covers, illustrations, logos, cartoons and caricatures.
As art director at a London advertising agency in the Swinging Sixties, Alan shared a flat with David Bowie and recounts how Bowie always refused to do washing up.
A successful advertising career produced widely-recognised images, from Woodbine cigarettes and Camp Coffee to the ubiquitous Smith's crisp packet and Guinness can.
Now established and widely-respected as an artist, designer, caricaturist and illustrator, Alan exhibits nationally and internationally, with cartoons regularly appearing in national publications.
An enchanting storyteller, too, Alan is a great believer in using art to educate children and will be drawing Harry Potter-themed cartoons at Hove library on June 21.
For more information, call 01273 693701.
Preview by Keith Jago, features@thgeargus.co.uk
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