Arthur Ranson

born
Hornchurch Essex  June 3rd 1939

education
Salisbury Road Primary School 1945-50
S.E.Essex Technical School, Dagenham 1950-55 - 4 GCE's
Apprentice Stamp and Banknote Designer Waterlow and Sons 1955-60
S.E.Essex County Technical College & School of Art, day release,1956-60
S.W. Essex County Technical College & School of Art, Walthamstow 1960-63
Intermediate Arts & Crafts.  NDD Painting & Printmaking
Psychosynthesis & Education Trust - part time 1998-2001
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling

work
Teacher, at a Dagenham Secondary, 1963-64
Lettering Artist, Thames Board, 1964-65
Colour Mixer, Letraset, 1965-66
Studio assistant in ad studio, 1966-67
Freelance artist/illustrator, 1967-1976
Counsellor, part time, 2001-02 
Comic Book Artist, 1975-2007

Those the bald facts. If you want to see some of my family and holiday snaps you can scroll down. There is very little about my work and it is not very instructive, but from sheer self indulgence I wanted family and friends included.

'00s

Great-aunt Lily Lingfield (nee Booth)


Great-aunt Lily and baby Lillian Booth (my mum)

'10s

Great-aunts Lily Lingard and Daisy Brightmore (nee  Booth) who brought up my mother.

'20s

Ranson forebears from London's East End. Extended family background to my Essex childhood.

My Dad, far right, with his Mum, far left, and Dad, seated centre, some family and friends.

'30s       

Lillian and Alfred (mum and dad) Engaged . .     


. . and later with first born, another on the way, and dog Brenda.

'40s 

Evacuated part of the war aged 4. In reception class nice Mrs Skillycorn complimented me on my drawing of her spectacles. I knew then I wanted to be an artist.


I read a lot.


Childhood racing round streets, fields, gardens and woods within running distance of home.

The family


                                Alfred - Quantity Surveyor
           Gerald - Advertising Executive      John - Stevedore
William (Bill) - Solicitor    Dad    Mum    Me - Comicbook artist

'50s

Dad with his sons. L-r  Bill, Alf, Dad, John, me and Gerald, cut by amateur photographer Mum.


John  Jarvis, myself and Peter Bloor. Last year at school. Dave Perry at back. Then apprenticeship I hated but did learn discipline and get days off for art school.


John  marries Barbara.

'60s

Mid sixties art student. Married.


Me looking art-schooly. 


Pat, who became mother of Jonas.

Later my lack of certain relationship skills led to the '60s and '70s not being ideal domestically.

'70s

. .can you tell?

Anne and I


Remarried. Anne's coat purple velvet, mine brushed denim. My patent leather calf high boots with 3 inch heel. Photo; Peter Greenaway. Yes, that one.


Children - Cassandra and Jonas. A good looking pair.
Anne Cassie's mother.

Begin career in comics.


SSI and Cartoonist Club trip to New York 1979. Left to right -  Mannie Curtis ,    ?   , Sue Lamb,    ?    , Denis Gifford,  Bill Tidy,   ?   ,   ?   , Martin Asbury, me, Posy Simmons, Les Lilley and Dez Skinn being very nicely hosted at their place by the New York Cartoonist Club

'80s

In '80s and '90s I lived separately with daughter Cass. My career settled and I could afford to travel.


New York with Cassie visiting home of brother Gerald and his wife Maria. Later trips I got pics for Buttonman II.


I travel alone. Actually this trip, Moscow to Lake Bikal, met some guys and we were drunk on vodka for the 5 day rail journey. Did get ref for Shamballa.

'90s

Great Wall of China -  got the t-shirt.


I was on telly. Documentary of 'new age' holiday with Skyros. Embarrassingly enough it was life changing. Went on to do Imagery and then Psychosynthesis counselling course. 


All smiles. Save Bill worried for his wife Anne on the camera.

'00s

New millennia. Mostly think of this decade as one of loss - some people I loved and any lingering sense of immortality.


Got my diploma and did counselling until odd 'absences' got me. I felt clients didn't need that. Epilepsy diagnosed and treated, it left later. Never went back to counselling.


Life one long round of wine, women and song. This my daughter Cassandra's wedding.
Me, my brothers and Sue and Eve since you ask.


And more travel, albeit with Saga. India and Nepal. Taj Mahal all they say it is.


Spain 2004. My favourite picture of me. The `tattoo’ washed off.


New Years Eve 2004 - 2005

Then I had cancer. Bugger. Most of that year dealing with that then another getting better. I am now kind of OK thank you. 2007 did a couple of unsolicited covers for 2000AD but I'd sort of lost it and retired.*


2009- birthday surprise party by Cassie and Dave.


To end, my Aunt Ivy when young and mischievous. Here because she looks great and I wanted to use it.
Plus her outfit might stand for Fickle Elvin Fate.

*Mr. Ranson is doing some graphics for Gurney Molefelt's 'Muggins United' website.
NB. The Golden Book Of Wonder may not exist but something like it does.