Bryan Lawrence Reading

About

Bryan Reading was born in London on 24 February 1935. After serving an apprenticeship in printing, he worked in advertising studios, producing cutaway technical drawings for Jaguar and Austin Motors as well as exhibition and leaflet designs. His first published cartoons appeared in Argosy in 1953.

A contributor to Punch, Private Eye, Spectator, New Statesman, Oldie and other magazines, Reading’s strip cartoon “The Belchers” – at first written by Bryan McAllister – ran from 1977 to 1981 in Richard Boston’s monthly Vole. He has also drawn strips for the Evening Standard (1976-80), Building Design (1978-92), Traditional Homes (1985-92) and the Law Society’s Gazette (1991-4). In 1980 his Evening Standard “Consumer Counsel” strip won the Argos Consumer Award.

In 1996 Reading was Political Cartoonist on the Sunday Mirror, he has also drawn for Daily Mail (1978-86), Sun, London Daily News (1987), Guardian (1980-88), Rolls-Royce News, Construction News (from 1988), Rotary Magazine (from 1992), Countryman (1992-6), Classic & Sportscar Magazine (1995-6) and Classic Car Mart (since 1997). In addition, he has produced film animation for BP (1957) and artwork for film and TV productions (Euston Films, 1989-91).

A former committee member of the CCGB, Reading has also been voted CCGB Feature Cartoonist of the Year three times, in 1983, 1987, and 1988. A meticulous worker, especially with regard to architectural detail, he usually works in line without tints or wash using a Pilot fineliner pen.