I recently heard of the death of Paul Sample, one of the country’s finest cartoon illustrators. He made his passion for motorbikes part of his story, drawing Ogri, his biking character, for years. Why not make your living drawing what you like most? Clever idea. He was also responsible for many book jackets, in particular the paperback covers for Tom Sharpe’s books, which were, to my mind, one of the pinnacles in a fine career at the nib! In no part thanks also to the Art Director who commissioned him back then: Gary Day Ellison.

I never met Paul, but he sounds like he was a grand bloke to know. I am a huge fan of his work. In the league of cartoon illustrators, he has to be in the Premier League and at the top of the table.

I sincerely hope he will be remembered for his fine body of work, which lit up many lives. Ogri lives on.