Arthur John Ferrier was born in Glasgow on 15 November 1890, the son of John Ferrier, an organist. He went to Glasgow Technical College to study analytical chemistry, but drew cartoons in his spare time. With the encouragement of George Whitelaw, cartoonist on the Glasgow Evening News, Ferrier supplied cartoons to the Glasgow Evening News.
Ferrier began contributing to Punch in 1918, and in 1919 he moved to London, where he married Evelyn Brown, another artist and illustrator. Still working as a chemist, Ferrier drew cartoons for the Sunday Pictorial, now being edited by his former editor at the Glasgow Evening News. From 1923 he also provided theatre cartoons and caricatures for the News of the World.
Ferrier drew for a wide range of publications, including London Opinion, The Humorist, Razzle, Passing Show, Strand, and Blighty. In the 1930s, following the example of Norman Pett’s “Jane” in the Daily Mirror, he began creating a series of glamour strip cartoons which made him famous. These included “Film Fannie” for Everybody’s, “Our Dumb Blonde” for the Sunday Pictorial (1939-46), “Spotlight on Sally” for the News of the World (from 1945), and “Eve” for the Daily Sketch (1953-56).
Ferrier stopped working for the News of the World in 1959, but continued to do commercial and advertising work. “He was a tireless and enthusiastic party-goer and party-giver”, noted a friend: “He entertained in a large room decorated with his portraits of beautiful women. There would be good food and good wine – and a massive tally of theatrical talent to entertain the happy company”.
Ferrier died in London on 27 May 1973.
87 uncatalogued original strips (The Affairs Of Eve) [EV0001 – 0086]
4 uncatalogued original strips (Spotlight On Sally) [SP0001 – 0004]
7 uncatalogued original strips (Spotlight on Sally) [SP0005- 0011] Donated by Mrs M.J. Hamilton 2004
2 uncatalogued original strips (Ferrier’s Funfare) Donated by Mrs MJ Hamilton 2004
Cuttings: ‘The Affairs of Eve’ (Keith Mackenzie strip cuttings, 1955)