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World’s greatest yachting cartoonist dies

Mike Peyton in his studio Photo courtesy of Paul Gelder

Mike Peyton, dubbed the ‘World’s greatest yachting cartoonist’, has died aged 96. Born into a mining family in County Durham in 1921, Mr Peyton began sketching as a boy.

He lied about his age to join the Army and was seconded to draw maps of the North African desert by the Intelligence Corps during the Second World War.

After the war he went to Manchester Art School and he also discovered boating buying a 12ft canvas sailing canoe and working his way down the River Thames, sleeping on moored barges.

He worked as a freelance cartoonist for New Scientist magazine for 35 years, as well as contributing cartoons to a wide range of magazines, from Yachting Monthly and Practical Boat Owner to the Church of England Times and Corsetry & Underwear. His cartoons, which often needed no translation, were published worldwide in yachting magazines from Japan to America.

He also had 18 books of yachting cartoons published and in 2016 was presented with the Yachting Journalists’ Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and dubbed the ‘Picasso of sailing’.

Mr Peyton is survived by his wife, Kathleen and daughters Hilary and Veronica.

via Boating Business | World’s greatest yachting cartoonist dies.