Northern Ireland

Kenneth Mahood: Belfast-born cartoonist brought smiles to Daily Mail readers for 27 years

Ken Mahood drew cartoons for the Daily Mail for almost three decades. Picture from Rexmailpix
Ken Mahood drew cartoons for the Daily Mail for almost three decades. Picture from Rexmailpix Ken Mahood drew cartoons for the Daily Mail for almost three decades. Picture from Rexmailpix

WHEN Kenneth Mahood retired from the Daily Mail shortly before his 80th birthday, he had penned more than 14,000 cartoons for the newspaper.

For more than 27 years he brought a smile to readers' faces with his 'pocket' drawings offering his unique take on the big stories each day.

"At a time when the news is very grim, I think people look for some light relief. And that's the job of the cartoonist," he said of his work.

"The important thing is to be witty, but to make a comment at the same time."

Kenneth was born in Belfast in 1930, joking that he was brought up "in a religious community so strict even the churches were closed on Sundays".

Ken Mahood cartoon from the Daily Mail, September 24 2009 with the caption: 'It isn't a non nuclear proliferation treaty we need from him, but a promise to drastically cut the length of his speeches!' It related to an over-long speech by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi given to the United Nations. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi died 20/10/2011
Ken Mahood cartoon from the Daily Mail, September 24 2009 with the caption: 'It isn't a non nuclear proliferation treaty we need from him, but a promise to drastically cut the length of his speeches!' It related to an over-long speech by Colonel Muammar G Ken Mahood cartoon from the Daily Mail, September 24 2009 with the caption: 'It isn't a non nuclear proliferation treaty we need from him, but a promise to drastically cut the length of his speeches!' It related to an over-long speech by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi given to the United Nations. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi died 20/10/2011

He left school at 14 to work as an errand boy in a solicitor's office and was an apprentice lithographer before becoming a painter, exhibiting in Dublin and London and winning a scholarship to study in Paris.

The young film buff's life changed, however, when he met a cartoonist who told him that part of his job was to spend the afternoons in the cinema.

His first cartoon was accepted by Punch magazine when he was 18. He became a regular contributor and its assistant art editor in the early 1960s.

Having moved to London, Mahood became the first-ever political cartoonist for The Times in 1966.

He went on to work for the Evening Standard and Financial Times before joining the Mail in 1982.

Tasked with producing miniature cartoons for the news and sports pages, he drew inspiration from two television sets in the small room where he worked.

Mahood also contributed drawings to the New Yorker and produced several books including children's titles.

He continued painting in retirement in his studio overlooking the Thames and his work, including collages, has sold around the world.

Described as a 'true gent', Kenneth Mahood died aged 90 in London on December 30.