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Bentley, Nicolas (1907 – 1978)

Nicolas Bentley original cartoon artwork.

In 1932, Nicolas Bentley became a freelance illustrator and commercial artist. His first successful advertising cartoon series was "Mr Can and Mr Can't", which he drew for Eno's Fruit Salt in 1933, and he subsequently drew for Pan Yan Pickle, Sankey-Sheldon Steel and others. He also contributed cartoons to Bystander, Lilliput, Men Only, Daily Express, Sunday Express, Night & Day, Punch and Radio Times, sometimes signing his work 'NB'. During the Second World War Bentley worked in the Ministry of Information and served as a fireman. After the war he worked for the News Chronicle from March 1955 to November 1957, and from January 1958 to June 1962 drew topical pocket cartoons - "Watch My Line" - for the Daily Mail. In 1972 he joined the Sunday Telegraph - leaving two years later, and also produced cartoons and caricatures for Sunday Times, Punch, Private Eye - notably illustrating "Auberon Waugh's Diary" from its inception in 1972.