Steve Yeowell
Encyclopedia
Steve Yeowell is a British
comics
artist, well-known for his work on the long-running science fiction
and fantasy
weekly comic 2000 AD.
ing and jewellery
), Yeowell began drawing comics purely for pleasure, with no particular intention to become a professional artist. Having shown his portfolio to artist Bryan Talbot
, he quickly found himself given work by Swiftsure
(on the Lieutenant Fl'ff strip), Action Force
, ThunderCats
and Zoids
comics. This last put him in touch with writer Grant Morrison
, who then picked Yeowell to be the sole artist on new superhero strip Zenith, to run in 2000 AD beginning in 1987.
Zenith was a popular success, running to four full-length series plus many one-offs. Yeowell was headhunted by American comics companies and has worked on Batman
, The Fantastic Four, The Invisibles
, JSA
and Starman. He continued his association with Morrison, collaborating on Sebastian O
and The New Adventures of Hitler
.
Yeowell's work is noted for delicate penmanship and lifelike facial expressions, with a notable economy of style that means that his work suits both colour and monochrome
treatment. He works with a dip pen (Gillot 404 nib) and a Windsor & Newton Series 7 No.3 sable brush, as well as Rotring
and marker pens, on 220 g/m² Daler Rowney Heavyweight Cartridge Paper.
The concentration on human features means that Yeowell's work is held to suit superhero, science fiction and historical genres equally. Recent work has included The Red Seas
, an eighteenth-century pirate story scripted by Ian Edginton
and science fiction Triad tale Red Fang by Steve Moore
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
artist, well-known for his work on the long-running science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
weekly comic 2000 AD.
Biography
Having trained in 3D design (specialising in silversmithSilversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
ing and jewellery
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
), Yeowell began drawing comics purely for pleasure, with no particular intention to become a professional artist. Having shown his portfolio to artist Bryan Talbot
Bryan Talbot
Bryan Talbot is a British comic book artist and writer, born in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1952. He is best known as the creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire.-Career:...
, he quickly found himself given work by Swiftsure
Swiftsure
Lightship #83, now called Swiftsure, is a lightvessel launched in Camden, New Jersey, USA in 1904 and now moored in Seattle, Washington. She steamed around the tip of South America to her first station at Blunts Reef in California, where she saved 150 people when their ship ran aground in dense fog...
(on the Lieutenant Fl'ff strip), Action Force
Action Force
Action Force was a 1980s range of European action figures initially based on Action Man, and later used to introduce G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys to European markets...
, ThunderCats
ThunderCats (comics)
The ThunderCats comic book series was based on the original television series of the same name. It was originally published by Marvel Comics through its Star Comics imprint in 1985, lasting for 3 years and 24 issues...
and Zoids
Zoids (comics)
Spider-Man and Zoids was a comic book series by Marvel UK that was a tie-in with the toys of the same name. The comics anthology included reprints of Spider-Man stories and an original series of Zoids tales...
comics. This last put him in touch with writer Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
, who then picked Yeowell to be the sole artist on new superhero strip Zenith, to run in 2000 AD beginning in 1987.
Zenith was a popular success, running to four full-length series plus many one-offs. Yeowell was headhunted by American comics companies and has worked on Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, The Fantastic Four, The Invisibles
The Invisibles
The Invisibles is a comic book series that was published by the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics from 1994 to 2000. It was created and scripted by Scottish writer Grant Morrison, and drawn by various artists throughout its publication....
, JSA
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
and Starman. He continued his association with Morrison, collaborating on Sebastian O
Sebastian O
Sebastian O is a comic book series written by Grant Morrison, drawn by Steve Yeowell and published by the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics in 1993.-Publication history:...
and The New Adventures of Hitler
The New Adventures of Hitler
The New Adventures of Hitler was a highly controversial comic series written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Steve Yeowell which first appeared in Cut, a Scottish arts magazine in 1989 before being reprinted in the anthology Crisis in 1990....
.
Yeowell's work is noted for delicate penmanship and lifelike facial expressions, with a notable economy of style that means that his work suits both colour and monochrome
Monochrome
Monochrome describes paintings, drawings, design, or photographs in one color or shades of one color. A monochromatic object or image has colors in shades of limited colors or hues. Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale or black-and-white...
treatment. He works with a dip pen (Gillot 404 nib) and a Windsor & Newton Series 7 No.3 sable brush, as well as Rotring
Rotring
Rotring is a German technical writing and drawing instruments company based in Hamburg.-History:The company was established in 1928 as Tintenkuli Handels GmbH. The company's first product was the Tintenkuli, a stylographic pen—a fountain pen with a narrow steel tube instead of a conventional nib...
and marker pens, on 220 g/m² Daler Rowney Heavyweight Cartridge Paper.
The concentration on human features means that Yeowell's work is held to suit superhero, science fiction and historical genres equally. Recent work has included The Red Seas
The Red Seas
The Red Seas is a series for 2000 AD, written by Ian Edginton and drawn by Steve Yeowell.The stories revolve around Captain Jack Dancer and the crew of his ship the Red Wench. It mixes pirates with anomalous phenomena, including magic, zombies, the hollow earth and werewolves.-Crew:*Jack Dancer:...
, an eighteenth-century pirate story scripted by Ian Edginton
Ian Edginton
Ian Edginton is a British comic book writer.He is one of the few British comic talents to follow the reverse trajectory to the one usually taken: becoming successful in American comics before returning to work for 2000 AD.-Biography:...
and science fiction Triad tale Red Fang by Steve Moore
Steve Moore (comics)
Steve Moore is a British comics writer.Moore is credited with showing acclaimed writer Alan Moore , then a struggling cartoonist, how to write comic scripts...
.
Awards
- 1987 Zenith: "Phase One" won the Eagle AwardEagle AwardThere are several distinctions and recognitions known as the Eagle Award.*Eagle Award, the highest rank of the Zambia Scouts Association*Eagle Award, the highest award given to a civilian by the National Guard of the United States...
for Favourite Single or Continued Story (British)
External links
- 2004 interview with 2000ADReview
- Month of Art Stars: Artist's Choice - Steve Yeowell, Comics Should Be Good, Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
, July 5, 2009