Cartoon book is animal crackers
Many people might argue elephants, dogs and horses are not the most hygienic of animals, but one Northampton cartoonist begs to differ.
Frank Jeffs, aged 74, has spent more than 50 years drawing and painting cartoons across a wide range of subject matter, from irreverent commentary on the closing of post offices and the state of the town's bus station to regular newspaper spots and gifts for departing colleagues.
But his latest publication addresses a rather more light-hearted matter; animal hygiene.
Can You Imagine? features a series of cartoons about the toilet habits of elephants, giraffes, dogs, horses and snakes, as well as a lesson on how crocodiles floss their teeth.
Frank, who creates all his cartoons from his workshop in the front bedroom of his house in The Mounts, said: "The book is going to be published online on a website which carries children's books. I know young children love animals and I had these cartoons which I had done so I put them together and submitted them for publication and they were accepted."
Frank, who has done artwork for the Chronicle & Echo in the past, as well as for the Saints and Northampton-based companies Nationwide and Avon, first started drawing cartoons in 1956, when he was serving in the Royal Army Dental Corps in Cyprus.
He said: "I used to send cartoons home, either of memories of being back in England with my family, or ones trying to take the light-hearted view of what was going on around me. My father was a comedian who worked in the theatre in Northampton for 20 years and my grandfather was a talented artist who did pencil drawings and I've managed to combine the two.
"Cartoons for me are pure fun. Any bit of amusement I can see in a situation anywhere I will do a cartoon of if I have the chance. I like to see the pleasure on people's faces when they see them. It's in my blood. But anyone who has basic artistic skills can do them. It just takes practice."
Frank's next book, to be published in November, will be called Northamptoons and will feature the best of his work created in and for the town.
To see Can You Imagine? go to www.sharing-books.com. For more of Frank's cartoons visit www.frankcartoonsnorthampton.co.uk.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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