In Episode 13 we have a rare interview with Vincent Deighan – AKA Frank Quitely – one of the world’s most in-demand comic book artists. Frank has won four Eisner and three Harvey awards and joins us for a chat about Electric Soup and his work with Mark Millar.

Frank is noticeably absent from social media and has no official website, but that hasn’t stopped him coming to the attention of – and working with – some of the comic book industry’s leading lights, including Millar, DC Comics and Marvel.

In this episode Frank stops by to chat about his early days on Electric Soup; his recent work including his ongoing collaboration with Mark Millar; and about his approach and technique. There’s also a hint of things to come as we chat about his current projects.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Jupiter’s Legacy
Frank’s BBC documentary
BBC article to accompany said documentary
Frank on Wasps
Frank’s extensive Wikipedia article

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In Episode 12 we chat via Skype with storyboard and concept artist Rob McCallum. Rob has collaborated with film-makers of the calibre of Guillermo del Toro, George Romero and Edger Wright and his work features in Victor Frankenstein, a new movie starring Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy. We chat about his recent work, his process and advice for young artists.

Rob is based in Canada and has worked on a number of major motion pictures, including Pacific Rim and Kick-Ass. He previously illustrated for both DC and Marvel Comics and he has recently been working on storyboards and conceptual art for the SyFy show Killjoys.

In this episode Rob joins us from Toronto to chat about his work, his approach and the challenge of working long hours against tight deadlines in the knowledge any project could end up consigned to ‘development hell’.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Rob’s Website
Rob’s work in television and film
Rob’s professional Twitter account

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In Episode 11 we chat via Skype with Kate Charlesworth. Kate has been published far and wide, in some of the UK’s most read newspapers and magazines. We chat about her recent collaboration with Bryan & Mary Talbot on Sally Heathcote: Suffragette and look back on some of her earlier work.

Kate has enjoyed a long career in cartooning and illustration, working on a wide range of projects from strips in newspapers to full-form graphic novels.

In this episode Kate joins us from her Edinburgh studio to chat about a range of topics including her years with the Guardian and New Scientist, her experiences during the Independence referendum campaign in Scotland, working with the Talbots and a look ahead to her upcoming projects.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Kate’s Website
Kate on Twitter
Kate on the BBC

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In Episode 10 we chat with cartoonist and illustrator Moira Munro. Moira has produced cartoon strips for The Herald and Woman’s Weekly and illustrated a number of children’s books. We chat about the French cartooning tradition and her recent projects.

Moira started cartooning later in life than some but made up for any lost time with her popular cartoon strips; exquisite children’s book illustrations; and offering her services as a visiting author for primary schools.

In this episode we talk about her mixed French and Scottish background; the romantic view of the author/illustrator relationship versus the reality; what a “female” cartoon looks like; Moira’s experiences creating her own titles for children (including the successful Hamish the Bear books); the necessity of diversity in a cartooning career; and her recent work in the health sector.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Moira’s Website
Moira on Twitter
Moira’s Books

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In Episode 9 we chat with illustrator and street artist Conzo Throb. Conzo has been involved with the Secret Walls events and we chat about how that came about and what he loves about the format.

Conzo’s distinctive, round–headed and chubby-cheeked characters have been appearing on walls in art studios, office complexes, bars and restaurants across Scotland for a number of years. As illustration and street art have fused, Conzo has been at the cutting edge, his funny and fast art taking him all around the world.

In this episode we talk about how the Secret Walls initiative has made cartooning a spectator event; Conzo’s extensive work with young people; his approach to illustration assignments; and the origins of his drawing style.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Conzo’s Website
Secret Walls
Conzo on Twitter

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In Episode 8 we chat with Metaphrog – graphic novellist duo John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs. They launch their latest book, The Red Shoes and Other Tales, this week and we have the story behind that project amid a thought-provoking conversation.

During the conversation we take the chance to explore the beginnings of their collaboration and how they influence one another; get an overview of all the books they’ve created including the Louis series; find out what motivated them to revisit classic fairy tales; and talk about their extensive work with young people as visiting authors in schools across the country.

Metaphrog also recently completed a residency at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and have some fascinating thoughts on the importance of visual literacy as a life skill for 21st century kids.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Metaphrog’s Website
Metaphrog Blog
Metaphrog on Twitter

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In Episode 7 we chat with Will Anderson. In 2013 Will won a BAFTA for his film The Making of Longbird in which he is seen recreating and arguing with a stroppy Soviet-era cartoon character. His Monkey Love Experiments was also BAFTA nominated, in 2015.

Will is well known for his animated videos featuring a cast of hilarious pigeons, ducks and other birds. Monkey Love Experiments picked up awards at Glasgow, Edinburgh and London film festivals and his company, Whiterobot make animated material for feature film and tv projects.

In this episode we look at Will’s influences; the development of his drawing style; why feathered creatures in particular appeal so much to him; his ongoing collaboration with fellow animator Ainslie Henderson; and get some details on their next production too.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Will’s Website
Whiterobot
Will on Twitter

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In Episode 6 we chat with Hattie Kennedy. Hattie has recently completed a PhD at the University of Glasgow, looking at political comic strips from the 1980 and ’95 Québec independence referenda and how they affected voters’ perceptions of the figure involved.

Besides her academic studies, Hattie also writes about comics for the Graphixia and Panels websites and was one of the organisers of the Comics Unconference that took place in Glasgow in 2015.

In this conversation we talk about how widespread the academic study of cartoon material has become around the UK; pay tribute to the Stirling Maxwell Centre at Glasgow Uni; compare Scottish political cartooning with Québecois and Catalonian material; and reveal a couple of new projects Hattie will be working on now her thesis is finally complete.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Hattie on Graphixia
Hattie on Panels
Hattie on Twitter
Read Harder Book Group Glasgow
Comics Forum at Thought Bubble
Comics Forum on Twitter

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In Episode 5 we chat with Lorna Miller. Lorna’s recent work focuses on editorial cartooning and can be seen in Private Eye, Morning Star, Bella Caledonia and on the new investigative journalism site ‘The Ferret‘. Other outlets for Lorna’s work include cartoons drawn for Hastings Independent Press and for the Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom.

Lorna made her debut on the 90’s small press comics scene with her humour title Witch, later republished by Slave Labor Graphics in California. She decamped from Glasgow to the south of England and for a decade worked on UK children’s comics featuring licensed characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Moshi Monsters.

In this conversation we talk about how local politics brought Lorna back to the drawing board after a time away; the challenges facing women pursuing a career in cartooning; and what she thinks may lie ahead for the profession: all in a spirited and frank conversation.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Lorna Miller’s Work
Lorna on Twitter
Lorna on Bella Caledonia

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In Episode 4 we chat with Colin Bell and Neil Slorance. Colin and Neil recently concluded their all-ages comic book series Dungeon Fun, having swept the board at the 2014 Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards and launched a collected edition in September. They also produce a humour strip for the monthly Doctor Who: Twelfth Doctor title from Titan Comics.

In a freewheeling and funny conversation with the lads we cover how the two met; the importance they place on creating a child-friendly comic; how they landed the Doctor Who gig and the controversial debate over whether their stories are canon in the Whoniverse; the fleeting nature of internet fame; tortoises; and lots more. Also, Terry gets schooled on the pronunciation of “kawaii”.

WARNING: this episode contains mild spoilers for both Dungeon Fun and upcoming Doctor Who strips.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Colin Bell website
Colin Bell on Twitter
Neil Slorance website
Neil Slorance on Twitter
Do Gooder Comics
Buy Dungeon Fun

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In Episode 3 we welcome cartoonist Gill Hatcher to the show. Gill is the founder of Team Girl Comic, a long-running series of small press anthology comics for female creators based in Scotland. Gill won widespread acclaim and British Comic Award and Scottish Independent Comic Book Award nominations for her solo project The Beginner’s Guide to Being Outside.

Gill’s interest in the natural world is also reflected in her latest book, The Seagull Appreciation Society. In this episode we talk about the appeal of the great outdoors; childhood influences; Glasgow’s booming small press comics scene; the evolution of Team Girl Comic; gender mix in the comics community; and much else besides.

You can subscribe to Drawn Out in iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or via your usual podcast app.

Gill’s Website
Team Girl Comic
Gill on Twitter
Gill on Tumblr

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