User:Ian Baker Cartoonist

Ian Baker (born April 14th 1970) is a British cartoonist, illustrator and writer who has had an international career in the press, publishing, advertising, greeting cards and television.

Born in Sheffield, England, Baker graduated from art college in 1990 having studied graphic design for four years, and immediately embarked on a freelance career. In his youth, aged 16, Baker co-wrote a children’s book called, ‘Professor Pickle and the amazing jelly machine’, with his friend and now successful musician, Mike Gorman.

Baker’s work has been published extensively in the UK, across Europe, Australia and the USA and his originals are in the permanent collections of several galleries, including the London Cartoon Museum in England, and the Karikature and Cartoon Museum in Basel, Switzerland.

Baker is also an accomplished magician, having co-produced the World’s first magazine in DVD format for magicians, called ‘Prestidigital’. During this time he performed trick reviews in front of the camera as well as filming behind the camera, conducting interviews with some of the most famous performers in the field, from Juliana Chen to Vik & Fabrini.

He is also a bass player.

MAGAZINES

Baker is best known for his humour contributions to many of the World’s leading magazines and newspapers, including Private Eye, Punch, National Lampoon, Nickelodeon, Cracked Magazine, The Oldie, Reader’s Digest, Maxim, Penthouse, Esquire, Saga Magazine, Prospect, The Sun, Daily Star, The Times, GP, The Independent on Sunday, New Humanist, New Statesman, People, The Picture, Ode, Bravo Sport and The Spectator.

GREETING CARDS

Since the mid 1990’s Baker has been very active in the greeting card industry, first with the Chicago based publisher, Smart Alex, then Nobleworks in New Jersey, USA before producing best selling cards for UK based publishers, Paperlink, Emotional Rescue, Gibson Hanson and Paperhouse.

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING

Baker’s work has been used in many advertising projects for companies and organisations in the UK and America, with clients including, Shell, Bosch, Edinburgh Council, Assure H&S, Kerry Foods, Merrill Lynch, William Hill, Car Care Plan, LWT, Yorkshire TV, Martin Grant Homes, The European Union, Allied Domaque, Cambridge University, City College London, RDL Distribution, Robinson Healthcare, Go Skills, Gro Group, Red Tooth, Thomson Holidays, MARS, Idea.Gov, Rycote and many more.

BOOKS

Baker has authored several books and has illustrated many more.

Illustrator for the ‘Murderous Maths’ best selling children’s series - Scholastic BBC Books – ‘Book of the future’ Collins – ‘Cartoon Workshop’ ‘The Deranged Book for Old Timers’ Magpie Books – ‘The Giant Bathroom Book of Cartoons’ Professor Colin Pillinger – ‘Space is a funny place’ Powerfresh – ‘You’re out of this world’ – Author and illustrator ‘20th Century Collectibles’ – Miller Antiques (work included as collectible items plus price guide) Private Eye annuals (various) Spectator Cartoon books Prospect Cartoon books ‘Rugby Wit’ – Summersdale ‘So you’re retired’ – Summersdale ‘So it’s your anniversary’ - Summersdale ‘So You’re 80’ - Summersdale ‘So you’re 70’ – Summersdale ‘So you’re a grandparent’ – Summersdale ‘Football Wit’ – Summersdale ‘Naughty Wit’ – Summersdale ‘Half Wit’ – Summersdale ‘Motoring Wit’ – Summersdale ‘Country Wit’ – Summersdale ‘Wicket Wit’ – Summersdale ‘Dad Wit’ – Summersdale ‘Mum Wit’ – Summersdale ‘Suddenly Senior’ – Summersdale ‘The Wit and Wisdom of Margaret Thatcher’ - Summersdale ‘Laughter – The best Medicine’ – Reader’s Digest Association USA ‘Favourite Cartoons of the 20th Century’ – National Lampoon USA American high school text book – Pearson Scott Foreman USA Various Carel Press publications Various Oxford University Press books Various McGraw Hill text books (US) Various Longman student text books ‘Celebrities Behaving Badly’ by Carol McGiffin ‘United Nations – Around the Manchester United World in 80 games’ – Cover artwork ‘Rich like me: An amusing guide to making millions in real estate’ – By Andrew Field 2010 USA