Curating Cambridge Signs Searle’s Cats

Curating Cambridge’s rights management division has been appointed by The Ronald Searle Cultural Estate to represent Searle’s Cats; a collection of over 50 original feline illustrations by the internationally renowned British artist, Ronald Searle (1920-2011). 

ArtPress Publishing is the first partner to join the licensing programme and will launch their range of greetings cards and notecard wallets at Top Drawer next week on Stand 059. The range features a curated selection of Searle’s fiendishly funny, sometimes poignant, satirical cat drawings to suit many an occasion, as well as dedicated Christmas products. Searle’s black ink characters and accentuating use of colour works brilliantly across the range and will certainly standout when merchandised in store. 

Recognised as one of the greatest satirical graphic artists of the 20th century, Searle’s passion for drawing was encouraged and cultivated in his native Cambridge. His fascination with cats emerged in the 1960s; the drawings showcasing an unparalleled ability to capture human emotions and idiosyncrasies through the feline form. “Searle’s Cats” was first published in 1967, its popularity leading to subsequent reprints and publications, including “Ronald Searle’s Big Fat Cat Book” in 1982. Searle’s cats also gained international recognition, gracing the covers of prestigious magazines such as The New Yorker, Life, and TV Guide. 

Searle’s unique style and satirical approach influenced a generation of cartoonists and animators worldwide, including The Simpsons’ Matt Groening, and Disney’s 101 Dalmatians. His influence extended beyond cartooning, impacting the development of satirical and political cartoons in the United Kingdom and inspiring artists like Quentin Blake, Gerald Scarfe and Ralph Steadman. 

Hannah Aspey, Head of Licensing at Curating Cambridge commented: “ArtPress has developed an exceptional greetings range and we look forward to sharing its success with existing and new partners across multiple categories to build a strong, evergreen licensing programme.” 

Linzi Russell-Watson, Director of ArtPress commented: ”It has been an utter privilege to work alongside Curating Cambridge, to launch a fabulous Collection of illustrations by Ronald Searle, featuring some of the most expressive cats you will ever see. From what might be the original Grumpy Cat, to a Balding cat in an unsuitable wig …they are the real cats’ whiskers! ”