After a decade’s pause, internationally acclaimed illustrator Ralph Steadman is exhibiting again in the UK. His INKling exhibition, at the Heath Robinson Museum from February 15 until May 10, celebrates a rich and varied 60-year career spanning multiple genres.

The exhibition explores four key areas of Steadman’s work: illustrations for literary classics including Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland and Animal Farm; children’s illustrations dating from 1963 through to his latest card game, The Ralphabet; and works from his decade-long collaboration with filmmaker and conservationist Ceri Levy, which has produced 300 original artworks featuring endangered birds and animals. Finally, there is a substantial selection of works from his long-running collaboration with American writer Hunter S. Thompson.

“It’s great to see all these pieces on display after so long; some are more than 60 years old, and I cannot even remember drawing some of them,” says Steadman. “I have been lucky, I suppose, that I have been able to work in such a variety of areas. When I did not have specific commissions, I could work on my own projects that pleased me. I have been able to travel all over the world for my work and that has been a great pleasure – lots of fun.”

Born in 1936, Steadman completed the Percy V. Bradshaw Press Art School correspondence course while doing his National Service and then moved to London to pursue a career as a cartoonist. His first cartoon appeared in the Manchester Evening Chronicle in 1956.

Over the years that followed, he undertook further training in drawing and printing, after which his distinctive style won him regular work with publications such as Private Eye, Radio Times, New Musical Express and the Daily Telegraph.

By the 1970s, books of his work were being published, including his illustrated Alice in Wonderland, which won the Frances Williams Award in 1972.

He met Hunter S. Thompson while covering the Kentucky Derby for Scanlan’s Monthly. It was a pivotal encounter that resulted in the pair becoming lifelong friends and collaborators and developing ‘Gonzo’ journalism, whereby you become the story rather than simply covering it.

Their work together included the iconic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which was originally serialised in Rolling Stone Magazine.

Steadman’s work reaches far beyond the printed page: other projects have included producing theatre sets, designing labels for Oddbins wine merchants from 1987 to 2000, and in recent years he has collaborated with companies including Vans, Supreme and Nike.

Discussing his wide range of projects, Steadman says: “It has to interest me. For example, I was interested to learn about Sigmund Freud, and so I researched him as much as I could. I went to his treatment rooms in Vienna and lay on the floor where his couch would have been to try and imagine what his patients might have felt, staring up at that ceiling.

“Animal Farm is such an incredible yet tragic story and I wanted to imbue the animals with the characters and traits that they embodied. Boxer is noble and honest while the pigs become more and more untrustworthy.

“Alice in Wonderland I only read in my thirties, and I could just envisage the world, but as part of 1960s London: the White Rabbit was a commuter, always on the move, the Mad Hatter was a rebellious mod, and Alice was always a little dissatisfied.”

Ralph Steadman: INKling is a touring exhibition that debuted at The Historic Dockyard Chatham from September 21 to November 17 2024. It will continue touring the UK in 2025, with further dates and locations to be confirmed.

Steadman, who is still drawing and creating today at the age of 88, is pleased to be exhibiting in the UK again.

“I hope visitors get to see some things they would not expect,” he says. “And I hope they get inspired to get some paint out themselves and have a go.”

Heath Robinson Museum curator Chris Westbrook is delighted to welcome the Ralph Steadman:INKling exhibition to a museum that celebrates the work of another great illustrator and social commentator: William Heath Robinson

“We’re very proud to be hosting this rich and wide-reaching show,” he says. “Ralph Steadman exemplifies many of the same qualities as Heath Robinson, not least a keen sense of humour and a flair for incisive social commentary. Ralph Steadman’s work spans so many genres, but his strong principles and his originality always shine through, as does his ability to enhance a story, giving readers a fresh perspective of the text.”

Ralph Steadman: INKling runs from February 15 to May 10 2025 at the Heath Robinson Museum, Pinner Memorial Park, 50 West End Lane Pinner HA5 1AE.

The programme of events accompanying the exhibition includes:

Saturday February 15, 11:30am
Ralph Steadman: INKling Launch Event – official opening of the exhibition: meet the Steadman team and join our Doodle Card Competition.
More info – https://www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org/whats-on/inkling-launch-event/

Saturday March 8, 3-5pm

Steadman on Steadman: a talk by Ralph’s daughter Sadie on her father’s life and work.
More Info – https://www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org/whats-on/steadman-on-steadman-a-daughters-insight-into-ralph-steadman/

Saturday April 5, 3-5pm

The Gonzovation Conversation: A talk by filmmaker Ceri Levy exploring his extraordinary collaboration with Ralph Steadman.
More info – https://www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org/whats-on/the-gonzovation-conversation/

In addition, educational group visits are available. Please contact the museum at – [email protected]

Full details of the exhibition and the accompanying events can be found at:
www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org