TONY GROGAN (b. 1940)
Untitled
1984
watercolour on paper
20 x 29 cm
BIOGRAPHY
Cartoonist, illustrator and artist Tony Grogan was born in East London, matriculated at Selborne College and studied Fine Art at Rhodes University.
Grogan taught at high schools in the Eastern Cape for eight years, drawing highly critical cartoons for local newspapers under an alias. In 1974, his long-standing ambition to become a full-time cartoonist was realised when Daily Dispatch editor Donald Woods persuaded him to apply for the position of editorial cartoonist for the Cape Times, which had been left vacant when the much-revered David Marais died. He was appointed and served the newspaper for over 40 years, providing the front page quip ‘Crack of Dawn’ and the main editorial cartoon. He became the longest-serving editorial cartoonist of the Cape Times.
His cartoons were known for their wit and sharp satirical tone and political insight.
He also worked for the Sunday Times and Sunday Independent – the latter for 12 years.
Grogan’s work has also been published widely in newspapers abroad. As an editorial cartoonist he pilloried the social and political foibles of a crucial period of South African history.
He is also an illustrator of note, having illustrated many books.
In addition, Grogan has authored seven of his own books of water colours and drawings illustrating his travels to different parts of southern Africa. He works mainly in line wash and water colour. His drawings are known for their freshness, spontaneity and vigour. He has a keen interest in local history and conservation and has devoted much time to capturing the older parts of Cape Town and its surrounds, which are being demolished or gentrified.
UCT Libraries mounted an exhibition of Grogan’s work in 2011.