Pictured here from left to right Jeremy Jacobs (interview and presenter), Sian Lloyd, Guy Carter (cameraman), Simon Ellinas (Chattoon Obergruppenfuhrer), Cathy Simpson. (Photograph courtesy of Nicola Gaughan.)

You’ve been framed!

Beth Davies discovered that local artist, Cathy Simpson, was invited to capture well-known weather presenter, Sian Lloyd, in one of her delicious caricatures. Cathy recently joined The HOT team and has written art exhibition reviews, book reviews, and of course her wonderful signature illustrations now appear on our site.

Cathy met Ms Lloyd in London when she was invited along to an interview with the Chattoon website team.  This is Cathy’s first project with Chattoon and the first time she’s actually met the celebrity victim in the flesh, so to speak.

Sian Lloyd, with signficant aspects of her life story!

I asked Cathy what her background in art had been; ‘ I’ve always drawn cartoons regardless of whatever else I’ve been producing.  I’ve been an illustrator since 1986, and although a lot of my work is more ‘serious’, I have some difficulty staying serious for very long… so cartoons are an ideal outlet, really.  I studied illustration at what was then St Martin’s School of Art, and more recently I’ve completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeological Illustration at Swindon College.’

However she has had plenty of practice doing very quick caricatures live most recently at The Stag, Cathy told me, ‘I contacted Alan and Star at The Stag and asked if they would mind if I drew the participants of the Folk Music Sessions on Tuesday evenings, since then they have both been hugely supportive and encouraging of my work and I’d like to say a big thank-you to them!’

Cathy’s work to date has been extremely varied and clients have included the BBC, Methuen, Blackie, George Philip, Scholastic and many greetings card companies.  Recent gag cartoons have been published in Church Times and The New Humanist Magazine ‘something nicely balanced about that!’

Cathy’s art is truly unique and a wonderful souvenir for any occasion. She is available for caricature commissions; either live at events such as weddings & conferences, or from photographs for a really personal gift or greetings card.

More of her work can be seen here.

Also in: Hastings People