This is one of three little late 20th-century original pen and ink caricatures which I have in my Iconic Edinburgh online store - the other two are by the artist, Barry Fantoni (only one left now of the Fantoni cartoons - one sold in a day).
This one is by the fabulous Willie Rushton (1937 - 1996). The drawing is not fully signed - but it is given to Rushton on a stylistic basis as his style of drawing is unmistakable.
It is signed simply R 91 in the bottom right-hand corner (ie short for Rushton 1991).
Willie Rushton was an amazing and multi-talented man.
He was an English cartoonist, satirist, comedian, actor and performer who co-founded the satirical magazine, Private Eye. Rushton produced its first cartoons and its layout from his mother’s home in Kensington.
There is a very lengthy entry on Mr Rushton on Wikipedia - I urge you to read this and discover more about this fine fellow. I remember him fonding from my own younger days - when he was a guest on Celebrity Squares and Blankety Blank - where he never failed to amuse with his sharp wit.
Many of his little caricatures and cartoons were made for publication in the Private Eye - they are keenly sought after by collectors of political caricatures and illustrations.
It is a quirky little drawing - a caricature of the Feminist writer and novelist, Fay Weldon - she is dressed as Little Bo Peep - and she is looking after a strange selection of sheep. To the right-hand side of the cartoon - is her sheep or "shits". Bo Peep's little sheepdog has herded them all up - and they are all contained and looking very nervous behind a little fence.
There is an inscription to the extreme left-hand side (written by Weldon?) - this reads "Amongst whom I do not number Giles... Love from Fay.
In a nice quality chrome metal frame measuring 22 x 22 cm.
The image is 13 x 13.5 cm.
Listed at a fair price for this unique little artwork relating to the writer and done by such an important British satirist.