cartoonist, writer of satiric verse and teacher, was born in London. His first published satiric verse appeared in post-WWII Punch when Swain was in his twenties. After coming to Australia he taught English at North Sydney Technical College and freelanced as a hobby cartoonist. While lecturing in professional writing at Canberra College of Advanced Education (now Canberra University) in the 1960s, he regularly contributed cartoons, satiric verse and articles to the Canberra Times . He also had cartoons and comic writing in the Sydney Morning Herald and Bulletin .
Also a historian of cartooning (Anita Callaway and Candice Bruce did research for his exhibition on cartoons of Aborigines, Tin Sheds, 1988), Swain curated an exhibition (with catalogue) on the history of cartoons about Aboriginal people, 200 in the Shade (Sydney, 1988). For many years he worked to establish a national archive of cartooning. After initial involvement the National Museum of Australia went sour on the idea (though its collection and promotion of political cartoons owes much to his efforts). He tried again and in 1996 was involved in the opening of the Museum of Cartooning at Coffs Harbour (now Bunker Gallery chiefly sponsored by the local Rotary Club). A member of the Australian Black and White Artists’ Club, Swain moved back to Sydney after her retired from teaching professional writing at Canberra CAE. He was living at North Bondi in 1994, supposedly working on 'a sort of life story’. Father of artist Sally Swain .
- Writers:
- Kerr, Joan
- Date written:
- 1996
- Last updated:
- 2007
