Evelyn Carter
Steven William Maclean Bell (born 1951, Walthamstow, Essex, England) is a British political cartoonist, caricaturist, artist, and satirist, celebrated for his 42-year tenure at The Guardian (1981–2023). Known for his sharp wit, grotesque caricatures, and unapologetically left-wing political stance, Bell became one of the most recognizable figures in British editorial cartooning — a fearless chronicler of power, hypocrisy, and political absurdity.
Steve Bell — Infobox
| Full Name | Steven William Maclean Bell |
|---|---|
| Born | 1951 — Walthamstow, Essex, England |
| Age | 73–74 (as of 2025) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Political Cartoonist, Illustrator, Satirist, Artist |
| Years Active | 1977 – present |
| Education | – Teesside College of Art (Fine Art) – University of Leeds (BA in Art and Film, 1974) – St Luke’s College, Exeter (Teacher Training, 1975) |
| Known For | • Political cartoons and If… comic strip for The Guardian (1981–2023) • Left-wing political satire and grotesque caricatures • 42-year career shaping British political cartooning |
| Major Publications | The Guardian, Time Out, City Limits, The Leveller, Prospect Magazine |
| Artistic Style / Themes | Satirical caricature, political parody, visual allegory, surreal humor |
| Signature Works | • If… (comic strip, 1981–2021) • Editorial cartoons for The Guardian (1980s–2023) • Animated series Margaret Thatcher – Where Am I Now? (Channel 4, 1999) |
| Influences | James Gillray, Francisco Goya, William Hogarth, Gustave Doré |
| Controversies | – 2012 Netanyahu “puppet master” cartoon – 2015 Nicola Sturgeon “incest” strip – 2019 Tom Watson “antisemite finder” strip – 2020 Priti Patel “cow” depiction – 2023 Gaza war Netanyahu cartoon (led to Guardian exit) |
| Awards and Honors | • Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain – Humorous Strip of the Year (1984, 1985) • What the Papers Say – Cartoonist of the Year (1994) • Cartoon Art Trust – Political Cartoonist of the Year (1995, 1997, 1999, 2005) • British Press Awards – Cartoonist of the Year (2003) • Political Cartoon Society – Cartoonist of the Year (2005, 2007) • Honorary Degrees – Teesside, Sussex, Loughborough, Leeds, Brighton Universities |
| Notable Collaborations | Animator Bob Godfrey (Margaret Thatcher – Where Am I Now?, Channel 4) |
| Political Views | Left-wing, anti-establishment, pro–freedom of expression |
| Residence | Brighton, England |
| Languages | English |
Early Life and Education
Steve Bell was born in Walthamstow, Essex, in 1951, and raised in Slough. His father was a postal engineer, and his upbringing was firmly working-class — a background that later informed his critical eye toward authority and privilege.
In 1968, Bell’s family relocated to North Yorkshire, where he attended Teesside College of Art, studying fine art and design. He later earned a degree in film-making and art from the University of Leeds (1974) and then trained as an art teacher at St Luke’s College, Exeter (now part of the University of Exeter).
In 1975, Bell began teaching art in Birmingham, a job he described as “the worst year of my life — hell on Earth.” The experience confirmed his calling: not teaching, but drawing. He left teaching after one year to become a full-time freelance cartoonist.
Early Career and First Publications (1970s–1980s)
While teaching, Bell contributed unpaid illustrations to Birmingham Broadside, a leftist magazine, where he created a recurring strip featuring Maxwell the Mutant, a character who transformed into different people after drinking beer.
After several rejections (including from The Beano), he broke into professional cartooning in 1978 with a comic strip, Dick Doobie the Back-to-Front Man, for the humor magazine Whoopee!.
Bell’s major break came when Duncan Campbell, news editor at Time Out, commissioned him to create a strip about the new Margaret Thatcher government. The result, Maggie’s Farm — featuring anthropomorphic animals parodying British politics — ran from 1979 to 1981, later moving to City Limits.
During this period, Bell also produced Lord God Almighty for The Leveller and contributed artwork for The Clash’s 1980 album Sandinista!, illustrating the song “Ivan Meets G.I. Joe.”
The Guardian and the Rise of “If…”
In 1981, Bell joined The Guardian, launching his daily political comic strip “If…”, which became a fixture of British political commentary for the next four decades (1981–2021).
His strip combined absurd humor, biting satire, and surreal characters to expose the contradictions of political life. Bell’s grotesque caricatures — with exaggerated eyes, oversized mouths, and absurd anatomy — became his signature.
Notable recurring figures included:
- John Major as a grey, featureless puppet;
- Tony Blair as a maniacal, grinning zealot;
- David Cameron as a smooth pink condom;
- Boris Johnson as a bumbling grotesque with a mop of wild hair.
By the mid-1990s, Bell had become The Guardian’s principal editorial cartoonist, producing both daily strips and large standalone political cartoons through 2023.
Books, Animation, and Broadcast Work
Bell’s cartoons have been collected in multiple anthologies and illustrated books, and he has collaborated with authors and broadcasters. In 1999, he co-produced animated shorts for Channel 4, Margaret Thatcher – Where Am I Now?, marking the 20th anniversary of Thatcher’s rise to power.
He has also worked with Oscar-winning animator Bob Godfrey and has been featured in documentaries and radio programs on the history of caricature, particularly on 18th-century satirist James Gillray, whose influence is evident in Bell’s scathing visual style.
Style and Influences
Steve Bell’s art fuses Goya’s darkness, Hogarth’s moral satire, and Gillray’s grotesque exaggeration. He uses visual parody to turn politics into theater, often referencing famous paintings and cultural icons:
- Goya’s “The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters” – reimagined to mock UKIP and nationalism.
- Turner’s “The Fighting Temeraire” – redrawn as Charles Kennedy towing a decrepit Tony Blair (2005).
- Gustave Doré’s “Inferno” – used to portray Margaret Thatcher in hell after her death (2013).
Bell’s cartoons are immediately recognizable for their bold linework, dense symbolism, and morbid humor. He portrays politics as grotesque pantomime — funny, disturbing, and brutally honest.
Controversies
1. Israel/Gaza Cartoon (2012)
During the November 2012 Gaza conflict, The Guardian published Bell’s cartoon showing Benjamin Netanyahu as a puppeteer controlling Tony Blair and William Hague. Critics, including the Community Security Trust, claimed the imagery echoed antisemitic tropes.
Bell defended the piece as political commentary, not prejudice. The Guardian’s readers’ editor later acknowledged that while the cartoon wasn’t intended to be antisemitic, it used “the visual language of antisemitic stereotypes.”
2. Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP (2015)
An If… strip portraying Nicola Sturgeon as uncompromising on Scotland’s “core demands — incest and Scottish country dancing” sparked more than 300 reader complaints. Bell cited the line’s origin from a Sir Arnold Bax quotation, but many readers found it offensive.
3. Tom Watson and Labour Antisemitism (2019)
In 2019, Bell’s If… cartoon likened Tom Watson to an “Antisemite Finder General”, a satire on Labour’s internal conflicts. The cartoon was pulled by The Guardian, and Bell publicly criticized the paper for censorship.
4. Priti Patel (2020)
Bell was accused of racism after depicting Home Secretary Priti Patel as a cow with a nose ring — an image Patel later cited in Parliament as “deeply offensive, culturally and religiously.”
5. Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn (2020)
After Corbyn’s suspension from Labour, Bell drew Starmer presenting Corbyn’s head on a platter, parodying Caravaggio’s Salome. Some critics, including Lord Adonis, called it “repellent” and “antisemitic.”
6. The Gaza War and Final Guardian Cartoon (2023)
In October 2023, Bell’s tenure at The Guardian ended after a cartoon showing Benjamin Netanyahu with a scalpel over the Gaza Strip drew backlash for allegedly evoking Shakespeare’s Shylock (“pound of flesh”). Bell insisted it referenced David Levine’s 1960s “Johnson’s Scar” cartoon about the Vietnam War.
Following his departure, he was commissioned by former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger for Prospect magazine’s Christmas 2023 edition.
Awards and Recognition
- Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain – Humorous Strip of the Year (1984, 1985)
- What the Papers Say – Cartoonist of the Year (1994)
- Cartoon Art Trust – Political Cartoonist of the Year (1995, 1997, 1999, 2005)
- Cartoon Art Trust – Strip Cartoonist of the Year (1996–1998)
- Political Cartoon Society – Cartoon of the Year (2001, 2008)
- British Press Awards – Cartoonist of the Year (2003)
- Political Cartoon Society – Cartoonist of the Year (2005, 2007)
- Honorary Degrees: Universities of Teesside, Sussex, Loughborough, Leeds, and Brighton
Legacy
Steve Bell’s four decades at The Guardian made him one of the defining satirical voices of modern Britain. His art chronicled an era of shifting ideologies — from Thatcherism to Brexit — with ruthless humor, moral fury, and artistic daring.
Whether admired or condemned, his work embodies the provocative essence of political satire: to speak uncomfortable truths to power.
“Cartoons are about freedom — freedom to mock, to provoke, to question. Take that away, and democracy dies a little.” — Steve Bell
