Michael Atchison b. 1933

  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator)
Late 20th century Adelaide cartoonist and children's book illustrator. Atchinson was a regular contributor to Punch magazine and from 1968 he worked as the daily political cartoonist on the Adelaide Advertiser where he remained for over 20 years.
You are viewing the version of bio from Nov. 27, 2012, 10:45 a.m. (moderator approved).
Revert to this revision Go to current record

cartoonist and children’s book illustrator, was born in Sandringham, Victoria, on 8 April 1933. He was educated in Adelaide, at King’s College then at Teachers’ College, university and art school. He became an art teacher with the Education Department, mainly teaching in Adelaide high schools, until he went to London in 1960 where he worked as a freelance cartoonist and art director in an advertising agency (1960‑67). He regularly contributed to Punch , including a weekly caricature of political and social interest, plus spot cartoons and several covers. His comments on his English career are quoted in Jensen (p.10).

Atchison returned to Sydney in 1967 to work as political cartoonist on the Daily Mirror but took up the position of daily political cartoonist on the Adelaide Advertiser in 1968. He remained there for over 20 years full-time until semi-retiring (apparently not long before 1995) but still doing regular political cartoons, e.g. The Cave Ins – Maralinga published Advertiser July 1997 and exhibited in Bringing the House Down: 12 Months of Australian Political Humour (Canberra: NMA/ OPH exhibition, 1997), cat.28. His comic strip Word for Word created in 1989 was syndicated in America.

In 1985, with cartoonist Wayne Baldwin , Atchison organised a convention in Adelaide of 40 Oz cartoonists. Sponsored by the Advertiser ; it was accompanied by an exhibition of contemporary cartoons in Old Parliament House, Adelaide. A longstanding member of the Australian Black and White Artists’ Club, in the 1990s he was living at Stirling, SA.

Writers:
Kerr, Joan
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2007

Difference between this version and previous

Field This Version Previous Version
References [<ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1986), 'The West Book'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1986), 'Pardon My French'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1985), 'What's Your Problem'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1982), 'Wry Rhymes for Troublesome Times 1982'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1985), 'Frank Bould Sr Buster'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1982), 'Songs for my dog'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1982), 'Wry Rhymes for Troublesome Times'.>, <ExternalResource: Adams, Phillip (1986), 'Arrest that Cartoonist!', Penguin, Ringwood, Vic.>, <ExternalResource: Bridges, Jim; & Heimann, Rolf (eds.) (1988), 'Australia, the cartoon', Carlton, Vic : McCulloch, ll. pp 58, 74.>, <ExternalResource: Jensen, John (1989), 'Australasian Cartoonists in Britain 1889-1988 (Working Paper 43)', London, England, UK : Sir Robert Menzies Centre for Australian Studies.>, <ExternalResource: Lindesay, Vane (1994), 'Drawing from life : a history of the Australian Black and White Artists' Club', State Library of New South Wales Press, Sydney, NSW, pp 53, 95.>, <ExternalResource: Stone, Walter (1973), '50 years of the newspaper cartoon in Australia', Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, p 74.>, <ExternalResource: Turner, Ann, 'Oral History interviews', National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT.>, <ExternalResource: (1986), 'Australian Black and White Artists Club Book of Originals', Sydney, NSW : Australian Black and White Artists Club/ Art Gallery of New South Wales (178.1988.1-102).>, <ExternalResource: 'wittyworld international cartoons online', hhtp:/www.wittyworld.com/wittyworld/whowho/whowho-a.html.>, <ExternalResource: Turner, Ann (ed) (2000), 'In Their Image : contemporary Australian cartoonists', National Library of Australia [Oral History interview], Canberra, ACT :.>, <ExternalResource: Sydney, NSW : Man.>, <ExternalResource: Punch.>, <ExternalResource: Daily Mirror.>, <ExternalResource: Adelaide Advertiser.>, <ExternalResource: (1997), 'Bringing the House Down : 12 Months of Australian Political Humour', National Museum of Australia / Old Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, cat.28.>, <ExternalResource: Hansen, Guy (2005), '[Cartoons 2004] : Behind the lines : The year's best cartoons', National Museum of Australia, Canberra, ACT.>, <ExternalResource: Radcliffe, Russ (ed.) (2004), 'Best Australian political cartoons 2004', Scribe, Melbourne, Vic.>, <ExternalResource: Radcliffe, Russ (ed.) (2005), 'Best Australian political cartoons 2005', Scribe, Melbourne, Vic.>] [<ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1986), 'The West Book'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1986), 'Pardon My French'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1985), 'What's Your Problem'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1982), 'Wry Rhymes for Troublesome Times 1982'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1985), 'Frank Bould Sr Buster'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1982), 'Songs for my dog'.>, <ExternalResource: Atchison, Michael (1982), 'Wry Rhymes for Troublesome Times'.>]