I am reposting this as I only just learned that John died in 2023.
Almost four decades ago, John Thirsk was an illustrator popping up everywhere. His reportage style made him the perfect choice for projects that needed a sense of 'on the spot' visual reality. Here are two lovely examples illustrated by Thirsk, designed by a very talented and prominent consultancy at the time, Delaney & Ireland.
Both projects take the form of slip-cased portfolios. The first (produced in 1978) records a two-week journey by narrow boat loaned to John Thirsk by the British Waterways Board after they had seen a series of drawings by him of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal; The Sunday Times had commissioned these drawings.
The second (produced in 1983) promotes Croft Port and captures the company's history. Through Thirsk's fluid line, the illustrations visually conjure up the atmosphere of Portugal and the process of producing their rich liquid treasure.
1978, as Art Director at Fontana Paperbacks, I commissioned John to illustrate the cover of H. G. WellWells'ps. It still looks very fresh…
As I discovered when hunting for him, John Thirsk is still working on paper with pencils and brushes and also digitally.
This drawing was done using Macromedia FreeHand. So, old dogs and new tricks? Not a bit of it.
Sadly, John died in 2023. You can make contact with his wife Samantha here: [email protected]