Cartoon exhibition lands at RAF museum

Cartoon-lovers are in for a treat at a museum in Shropshire where a new exhibition has opened which shines the spotlight on the funny side of flying.

Flights of Fancy is a free exhibition at the RAF Museum Cosford which runs until September 24.

It has been produced by members of the Professional Cartoonists' Association and the exhibits formed part of the annual Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival.

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Every year the festival, which this year was held in April, adopts a theme for cartoonists to interpret using a variety of styles, media and humour.

This year's theme was flight.

Flights of Fancy features nearly 80 new cartoons based on the theme of flying, including originals and signed prints.

It has contributions from more than 40 professional cartoon artists and caricaturists from the UK and abroad – including Bestie, best known for his Birthday card designs, Kipper Williams, who draws for the Guardian, and Royston Robertson, whose drawings regularly feature in The Times and The Sun.

The exhibition also includes a series of 6ft panels that were drawn live in front of an audience during the festival.

A spokesman for the RAF Museum Cosford said: "The theme for the 2012 festival was 'flight' and the RAF Museum is delighted to be able to showcase these wonderful illustrations to our visitors.

"Subjects within the collection range from Star Trek, space and aviation to Superman, Leonardo da Vinci, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, balloons and even flying pigs."

The Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival offered people the chance to see artists at work, with 20 of them creating giant cartoons in The Square during the Cartoonists Live weekend.

Other artists created caricatures and ran cartoon workshops for all ages.

RAF Museum Cosford got involved during the festival weekend on April 19 to 21, erecting a stall in The Square in Shrewsbury to raise awareness of the work of the museum.

RAF Museum Cosford assistant curator Clare Carr said: "The diversity of cartoons within this exhibition shows how imaginative the cartoon artists' minds are."

He added: "It's fascinating to view the cartoons, which are works of art in themselves as well as being humorous and topical."

The exhibition,is already proving a hit with visitors.

Mrs Carr said: "We have received nothing but positive feedback relating to Flights of Fancy.

"Some people have enjoyed the exhibition so much they have purchased their favourite cartoons to appreciate at home when the exhibition has ended.

"The variety of cartoons means the display appeals to a wide audience, with some having adult themes and others children will be delighted by."

There are cartoons in various styles, including pen and ink and watercolour. Prices range from £35 to nearly £400.

The Flights of Fancy cartoon exhibition has toured Shropshire throughout the summer thanks to a grant from the Arts Council West Midlands. It was on show at the VAN Gallery, in Shrewsbury Market Hall, throughout April before going to the Qube, in Oswestry, where it spent May and part of June.

It then travelled to Wem Town Hall where it went on display from June 20 until July 31, before heading to the RAF Museum Cosford, where it will be on display until September 24.

The museum is open daily from 10am until 6pm, with last admission at 5pm.