Ken Mahood (1930–2021) was a highly respected British cartoonist, illustrator, and artist whose work became a familiar part of the UK’s newspaper and magazine landscape for decades. Known for his sharp observational humour and clean, expressive drawing style, Mahood built a career that blended political insight, gentle satire, and visual wit.

Mahood contributed regularly to some of Britain’s most influential publications. He worked on Punch, one of the country’s most iconic humour magazines, and later became widely known for his long-running contributions to The Times, The Daily Mail, and other national newspapers. His editorial cartoons often distilled complex political or social issues into clever, concise images that resonated with a broad readership.

In addition to political cartooning, Mahood produced illustrations, humorous drawings paintings and collage, showing a versatility that set him apart from many of his contemporaries. His work maintained a distinctive visual clarity—simple lines, strong composition, and an understated sense of comedy that allowed the idea behind each cartoon to shine.

His work offers fertile ground for the study of post-war British visual culture, the evolution of editorial cartooning, and the interplay between humour and social critique. Scholars have noted the enduring relevance of his approach: his cartoons capture both the political zeitgeist and the everyday realities of the period.

Over the course of his career, Mahood earned admiration from fellow artists, editors, and readers alike. His cartoons were recognized for their intelligence, warmth, and ability to convey a point with minimal fuss and maximum impact. His legacy endures in the many cartoons he created, the publications he shaped, and the influence he had on generations of illustrators and editorial artists who followed.