Comic Art Masterclasses of 2010

At this point last year I totted up how many days I'd spent teaching my famed Comic Art Masterclasses in schools, libraries, art centres etc. In 2008 I did 95 days, in 2009 a perfect 100 days. And in 2010?

109 days. Blimey. That's the best part of 5000 pupils, students, recipients of my wisdom, in the last year. Nice to work with all of you.

And just how far did I travel to do all this teaching? Good question, one that I can't be bothered to calculate, maybe someone out there can? Here, in order of travel, are the places I've been to with the Comic Art Masterclass this year...

Wilts, Swindon, Weston Super Mare, Salisbury, Omagh, Weston, Swindon, Weston, Leicester, Melksham, Wilts, Birmingham, Weston, Ilford, Kilmarnock, Swindon, Wilts, Weston, Dudley, Gairloch (Highlands), Willesden, Maidenhead, Collumpton, Chorley, Hampshire, Oxhey, Swindon, Walsall, Towcester, Devon, Wilts, Devon, Doncaster, Weston, Malvern, Glasgow, North Somerset, Lymington Hants, Bromley, Bourne Lincs, Harrow, Bristol, Nottingham, Marlborough, Swindon, Clevedon, Stone Staffs, Lymington Hants, West Hampstead, Manton Wilts, Walsall, Dudley, Falkirk, Clevedon, Lymington Hants, Dudley, Ormskirk, Potters Bar, Windsor, Weston, Edinburgh, Lymington Hants, Witney, Weston, Salisbury, Stone Staffs, Okehampton, Trowbridge, Westbury Wilts, Swindon, Countesthorpe Leics, Ilkley, Bromsgrove, Wakefield, Tiverton, Crouch End, Dartmouth, Gosport, Stevenage, Barton on Humber, Weston, Swindon, Maidenhead, Hertford, Yeovil, County Kildare, Dublin, Welwyn Garden City, London W1, Wimbledon.

There may be fewer classes in 2011, because I have a regular flow of new comic strip work starting to fill up my desk, so if anyone wants to book me they'd better get their bids in early. Details at comicfestival.co.uk

Merry Christmas from Kev & Hev & Kev

Merry Christmas and all other appropriate seasons greetings everyone. If you've received a card from us through the mail you are very lucky. If you haven't, it is highly likely we've just been rubbish at finding your address (and you never know, it might still be on its way). If you're still waiting for one, and you know us, then this is for you - seasons greetings from Hev & Kev: 

And if that weren't enough, I've produced a second Christmas card this year. This has been sent to all the schools, libraries and art centres at which I've worked this year and to my commercial clients. For everyone else, here just for you, is the screen version. Merry Christmas everyone. comicfestival.co.uk

Coldplay Christmas - new from the Socks

Brand new from the Socks, a seasonal treat. A Christmas song in the style of Coldplay, enjoy.



Before you ask, yes it's a new composition in the style of Coldplay, all written and performed by me & the Socks.


Check out the Socks Official 2011 calendar, here.

Socks tour flyer (back)

And here's the back of the Socks 2011 Spring tour flyer. Any comments anyone? (Actually I've just spotted an error myself)

Socks tour flyer 2011

Here's the front of the 2011 Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre tour flyer, what's everyone think?



I've reused the 2009 Edinburgh "Goes to Hollywood" photo which was also appeared on this year's tour flyer, because I love the photo, and it was obscured by a picture of Ali Cook on this year's flyer so I think it deserves another outing. I also think this August's "On The Telly" photo (see below), with one reading the paper and one in Star Wars costume, is a less good picture. Their faces aren't as good, and the costumes aren't as representative as this one.

The quotes are all new, count those stars, and what do you think of the TV logos? All comments welcomed, it's not too late to change anything.

Cheers, Kev F & the Socks

PS: The "On The Telly" flyer. See what I mean about the photo?



Check out the Socks Official 2011 calendar, here.

The news about Dad

The sad news today is that, in the early afternoon, my Dad Ian Sutherland died after a short time enduring cancer. 

  Anyone who knows or met him should be pleased to know he died peacefully in his sleep, and at home in Windmill Gardens. He had expressly wanted not to go into a hospital because they were "full of sick people". In the last few days a hospital bed was moved into the back room, Dad's piano room, and that was where he passed away. He was only diagnosed earlier this year and from the first news has approached the situation in his usual matter-of-fact way. He refused chemotherapy and other treatments, wanting his remaining time to be lived at home and enjoyed in as normal a way as possible, and it was. Until very recently he has been gardening, golfing and socialising, and I am pleased that the last time I saw him he was, to all appearances, his usual self. He had been describing himself as living on "borrowed time" ever since surviving a heart attack five years ago which, had it happened on the golf course rather than at home, would have finished him off then. He joked about the fact that this would be his last Christmas, sadly it won't even be that, and he was very appreciative of the fact that he'd lasted longer than his own Dad (Dick died aged 72, Ian made it to 79). He would not, I'm sure, want anyone to be sad for him. He was, after all, someone who dedicated his time to entertaining other people and making them happy, so we should all be happy that, to the last possible moment, he did just that. Our thoughts should be with Mum, Corral, who Jude is with now and who I'll join to help at the weekend. Kev F Sutherland Dec 9 2010

Latest Socks videos, round up

Hi Socks fans,

Just a quick note to bring you up to date with recent productions. Very soon you're going to be inundated with the Socks 2010 tour dates (I'll try & get Facebook not to send you them all individually) so before you all leave the group in disgust, here are our latest videos that you might enjoy checking out:

Silent Night, new Christmas Socks fun

Ga Ga Rasputin - a song that we wrote for this year's Edinburgh show but never finished till now

Ga Ga Rasputin outtakes, including The Prop That Never Worked


PLUG: A quick reminder that, if you want to buy the Socks 2011 calendar, it takes 5 days to arrive so you'd better buy it quick. Here's where you buy it.
(you can also check out all the images online for free)

Watch the calendar ad vid here.

And some earlier recent videos you might have missed:

Children In Need - 8 videos made in one day:


These include No-one Quite Like Grandma

Pirates of the Caribbean

Gary Glitter

Morecambe & Wise

Just The Two Of Us

Abbott & Costello

Roobarb & Custard

Chariots Of Fire

Have fun, love The Socks