On Thursday 25th February we welcomed local illustrator. Tony O’Donnell.  He is probably best know for his work for Ivy the Terrible in The Beano in the mid 2000s (he has signed our library copies).  He has also illustrated football stories, done some Sci-fi work and worked on Marvel’s Ghostbusters.

Locally, he does private commissions and freelance work – illustrations, artwork, logos and caricatures, as well as teaching community evening classes and, of course, coming in to our school to run a workshop.  He was last here in 2011.  He also has run a local youth club and will be running a youth Judo club in the near future.

Over the course of the split lunch around 20 pupils and one member of staff had a chance to have a look at some of Tony’s own work which showed us the variety of work he has done and thus is able to do.  He also demonstrated how to draw Ivy the Terrible and a ‘superhero’ face.  Pupils were also able to bring their lunch in with them and tea, coffee and hot chocolate and a tasty treat were provided.  This event loosely tied-in with the Stan Lee Excelsior Award for Graphic Novels, judged by young people.  This year we have about ten pupils shadowing the award, who are rapidly making their way through the books.  Most of these pupils took part in the workshop.

We would like to thank Tony for giving up some of his time to share his skills and knowledge.

It was really good and I enjoyed the drawings. KL

I thought it was very good. ST

Another comic event? HB

Competition.  More time. JL

Very good, possibly better if longer. JL

I really liked the cartoon drawing. (Anon)

Terrifically encouraging!  Could be longer. MB