Harrogate artist goes viral for his amazing cartoons saluting those on the frontline

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Working for The Yorkshire Post, Graeme’s images have always been popular, but his incredibly moving drawings during the coronavirus crisis have now gone viral, having struck a chord with everyone who comes across them.

With cartoons highlighting the hard work of those on the frontline during the pandemic, including NHS and supermarket staff, he has gained national recognition.

Graeme has recently been on Sky news and the BBC Jeremy Vine show, as well as having his images retweeted from celebrities like Deborah Meaden and Beverley Knight.

He told the Harrogate Advertiser: “It does feel surreal to be noticed like this, but it is also unbelievably good to reach such a global audience and get the message across in the way I do best - drawing.”

Graeme says he first began creating the coronavirus-themed images at the beginning of the year when the details of the pandemic were just beginning to emerge.

“When stories about the virus first started in the UK, I drew the picture of the nurse carrying the weight of the world because it really hit home to me how much trouble the NHS would be in if things got worse, but it has since spiralled from there.”

The following weekend, Graeme says he witnessed “sheer pandomonium” at the supermarket, prompting him to draw an image which urged people to stop panic buying, after he says he saw elderly people left confused and pushing empty trolleys.

And that was when his cartoons really started to take off - getting thousands of shares and comments on social media, with the invites for interviews on national television suddenly pouring in.

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Graeme said: “We really wanted to show some good news and push something positive - which is why I wanted to highlight the fantastic job of the NHS and all the key workers during the outbreak.

“It really started to gain momentum, going viral online, and that was when I knew I had a really powerful platform to celebrate people.

“It encouraged me to think of all the unsung heroes out there, from cleaners to waste collectors, and how we just couldn’t do this without them.

“There are many different angles for the pictures now, the possibilities are endless.”

And despite now working from home and spending large chunks of his day alone, Graeme says he is more motivated than ever, with ideas for new cartoons coming to him every day - aided by the support he is receiving from people across the country.

One of Graeme’s favourite parts of the attention he has received for his images is the way it has brought people together with a common cause.

He says he tries to reply to every comment, thanking people for taking the time to sing his praises.

He added: “I just want to inject a bit of zest into people’s lives - especially at such a dark and scary time for many.”

And one of his more recent projects was sure to do just that - a ‘thank you NHS’ poster for people to print off and colour in at home before sticking it in their window - a community initiative he says he was “proud” to be part of.

Going forwards, Graeme hopes his images will continue to inspire people to think of others and pay homage to those working tirelessly to support the community.

“On the whole, poignant, subtle and hard-hitting images keep resonating with people and long may it continue, he said. “I want people to think more positive, feel uplifted, take away the politics and unite, both locally and as a nation.

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“I hope my cartoons inspire people to find the light in every situation and realise there are so many heroes out there who we shouldn’t take for granted.”

Graeme’s fabulous artwork is available for purchase from The Yorkshire Post. Pick them up here https://yorkshirepost.newsprints.co.uk/search/scu/p/u/272329/1/special%20offer%20cartoon%20prints

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