'Better Or Worse' (The Daily Herald. 6 January 1962).
Leslie Caswell was a British illustrator with work ranging from women's magazines to medical books. During his short stint as newspaper cartoonist, he drew the humor strip 'Better Or Worse' for The Daily Herald (1961-1964).
Early life and career
During the 1930s, Leslie C. Caswell studied at London's Slade School of Art. In the summer of 1938, he received his Fine Arts degree from the University of London. After his student years, he submitted sculptures to the Royal Academy, while publishing his first cartoons in Lilliput magazine. During World War II, he served initially in the Royal Artillery in Burma. Deafened by the 25 pounder guns under his command, he was later reassigned as an official war artist in India recording the actions and personnel in the Burma campaign. He also drew and painted many members of the British Forces, African regiments, Gurkhas, Indian scenes, beggars, villagers, Maharajas and Tibetan women. Back in civilian life, Leslie Caswell and his wife Grace became founding members of the still-existing Dorking Group of artists. Particularly known for his portraiture, he has painted Lord Mountbatten and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Story illustration for the 6 December 1952 issue of John Bull magazine.
Commercial art
After World War II, Caswell joined the Billy Cooper Studio in Oxford Street, which specialized in fashion drawing, cartooning and magazine illustration. One of his colleagues there was the future comic artist Mike Noble, whom he trained in illustration. In the mid-1950s, Caswell opened his own commercial art studio in Oxford Street, called Caswell Studio Ltd. During the 1950s and 1960s, he worked for a variety of national magazines and newspapers, for instance drama serials in magazines like John Bull, Home Notes, Woman, Womans Own, Women's Day and Everybody's. He also provided artwork for fashion advertisements, and was a productive artist for scientific and medical journals. One of the books he notably made original illustrations for was the 'Textbook of Operative Gynæcology' (1954) by Wilfred Shaw. In addition, Caswell produced an illustrated series for the BBC called 'Skayn', which was featured on the children’s television series 'Zokko!' (1968-1970), directed by Paul Ciani.
'Better Or Worse' (The Daily Herald, 10 April 1964).
Newspaper comics
During the 1960s, Leslie Caswell was also active as a newspaper cartoonist. At the Daily Mirror, he drew episodes of Steve Dowling's humor strip 'Keeping Up With The Joneses' (1960-1961). Between 1961 and 1964, his experience in fashion illustration came in handy when he worked on the elegantly drawn humor strip 'Better Or Worse' in The Daily Herald. Written by Peter O'Donnell, the daily episodes featured the everyday life of newlyweds Jack and Jill. When the strip transferred to The Sun in 1964, Frank Langford became the new artist. Later episodes, appearing under the title 'Jack and Jill', were written by Les Lilley. The British 'Better or Worse' strip should not be confused with the Canadian strip 'For Better Or Worse' by Lynn Johnston.
Death
Living in Dorkin, Sussex, for most of his professional life, Leslie C. Caswell died in 1986.
Story illustration for the 26 July 1956 issue of Home Notes magazine.