Derek Fullarton grew up in Salisbury, and at the age of twelve won a scholarship to Salisbury Art School. During the Second World War he worked for the Admiralty in the drawing office at Bath, drawing torpedoes.
In 1948 Fullarton moved to London to work at the Walt Disney studio. He then began work for the Daily Herald, drawing sporting cartoons. Fullarton was also a frequent contributor to the Daily Mirror’s “Laughter Column”, and in 1954 the art editor, Philip Zec, considered him for the job of drawing the regular “Laughter at Work” cartoon. However, the job was eventually given to Reg Smythe.
Fullarton usually signed his name “Fullarton” in capitals, and in 1963 he was described as “tall angular, rather mournful-looking”. After the Daily Herald was renamed the Sun in the following year, he created the “Sunny Jim” racing cartoon for the paper. Derek Fullarton was found dead at his home in Smart’s Lane, Epping Forest, Essex on 8 December 1968.