Mel Calman

March 19, 1931 (age 62)

Stamford Hill

Failing to gain entrance to Cambridge University, he returned to London where he enrolled at the Borough Polytechnic Art School, later studying illustration at Saint Martin"s School of Art and Goldsmiths College. After two years of National Service, in 1956 he attempted to find work as a freelance cartoonist. Punch was discouraging about his work, but in 1958 he succeeded in placing work with the "William Hickey" column in the Daily Express. Although in regular work, he left the Express after five years, seeing no prospects being in competition with Osbert Lancaster and Giles. In 1962 he began producing his trademark "little man" character for the Sunday Telegraph, and in 1979 he brought this as a regular and long-running contribution to The Times. Additionally, he made contributions to Cosmopolitan and House & Garden, as well as publishing some 20 books of his cartoons. In later life he became an art dealer and collector, in 1989 co-founding the Cartoon Art Trust. He had two daughters with Pat McNeill, the novelist Claire Calman and author and scriptwriter Stephanie Calman.

Mel Calman

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cartoonist

Education

Sent to Cambridge to avoid The Blitz in World World War II, he was educated at the Perse School.

Career

Failing to gain entrance to Cambridge University, he returned to London where he enrolled at the Borough Polytechnic Art School, later studying illustration at Saint Martin"s School of Art and Goldsmiths College. After two years of National Service, in 1956 he attempted to find work as a freelance cartoonist. Punch was discouraging about his work, but in 1958 he succeeded in placing work with the "William Hickey" column in the Daily Express.

Although in regular work, he left the Express after five years, seeing no prospects being in competition with Osbert Lancaster and Giles.

In 1962 he began producing his trademark "little man" character for the Sunday Telegraph, and in 1979 he brought this as a regular and long-running contribution to The Times. Additionally, he made contributions to Cosmopolitan and House & Garden, as well as publishing some 20 books of his cartoons.

In later life he became an art dealer and collector, in 1989 co-founding the Cartoon Art Trust. He had two daughters with Pat McNeill, the novelist Claire Calman and author and scriptwriter Stephanie Calman.

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Mel Calman

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