Shrewsbury illustrator Charlie Adlard praises art scholarship
The UK's comic laureate, Shrewsbury artist Charles Adlard, says the Government should give more finding to the arts in schools.
The illustrator for titles including 2000AD, Mars Attacks, The X-Files, Judge Dredd and X-Men, as well as being the cartoonist for the popular zombie series The Walking Dead, wants to use his role to help young people's literacy and creativity.
Speaking at the launch of Ellesmere College's National Art Exhibition Mr Adlard said he was delighted to here that a portion of the sale of art at the event will go towards an arts scholarship at the college.
"With schools and colleges facing financial pressures, the arts are losing our to academia and the pressure that is put on students to pass exams.
"It is good to see the importance that the college is placing on the arts."
A selection of Mr Adlard's work is on display at the exhibition, which runs until Sunday.
He said cartoons should been seen as an art.
"In France cartoons are known as the ninth art. I am a cartoonist and proud to be a cartoonist."
Mr Adlard said that comic magazines were a wonderful way for young people who may not pick up a book, to improve their literacy and to enjoy art.
He said the area was lucky to have Glyndwr University in Wrexham which runs an animation degree, on its doorstep.
"I am so grateful that the Walking Dead success has enabled me to set up my own foundation that partly helps artists and the art work. It also helps environmental projects," he said.
College principal Brendan Wignall said the art exhibition was pleased to have someone of Mr Adlard's calibre as guest artist.
"We have about 80 artists exhibiting in what is our seventh annual national exhibition. The exhibition features landscapes, portraits and abstract art alongside sculptures, ceramics and glass works."
Ellesmere mayor Councillor Ryan Hartley said the quality of the artwork had gone from strength to strength over the years.
"There are some excellent artists from a wide area including some wonderful, local talent on display."
The exhibition at the college was opened by its patrons, Mrs Diana Flint, Sir Algernon Heber-Percy, the Lord Lieutenant, and Carolyn Trevor-Jones.
It is open to the public on Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 2pm.
