Carter, Matt :: Doctor Who Artwork

Dr Doctor Who Annual Cover William Hartnell 1965 - Walt Howarth (or Stanley Freeman) Original Painting

Artists: Walt Howarth (Painter) , Stanley Freeman (Painter)

6 Comments - 4,562 Views - 1 Like

Dr Doctor Who Annual Cover William Hartnell 1965 - Walt Howarth (or Stanley Freeman) Original Painting Comic Art

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Additional Images:

Walt Howarth

Dr Who. Hand Drawn type.

William Hartnell the original Doctor Who.

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Artwork Details

Title:	Dr Doctor Who Annual Cover William Hartnell 1965 - Walt Howarth (or Stanley Freeman) Original Painting
Artist:	Walt Howarth (Painter)
Artist:	Stanley Freeman (Painter)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	4,562
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	6
Added to Site:	6/3/2017
Comic Art Archive:

Description

This beautiful piece of artwork from the original Doctor Who Annual Cover 1965. Published by World Distributors. This piece used to hang on the wall of the company Directors office but an order was given, when the company ceased in 1990, to skip all the artwork archive.

This original cover was rescued by one of the World Distributors employees and kept safe for the last 17 years.

Very proud to be the owner of this iconic original piece. For me this is the Holy Grail of Dr Who artwork and captures the vibe of an exciting 1960's adventure series, with it's slightly scary lead character.

For it's age, it looks remarkable. The colours are so vibrant for something that's over 50 years old. It's a gem.

According to artist Stanley Freeman who worked at World Distributors, it was him who created the cover art.

�Stanley Freeman is a graphic artist and designer with some fifty years in the business.� In early 1964, he created the cover for the first Doctor Who Annual, until now generally credited to Walter Howarth.�
�This chat, about a new programme called Doctor Who, consisted of mention of a time machine in the form of a police box, some robots and Menoptera (half butterfly-half man).�� A photo of William Hartnell to follow in the post.

I must admit my memory is a bit woolly on the sub-cast on the cover. I don�t think at that time the Beeb had actually started filming [stories with some of the figures on the cover] and there may have even been a 'chicken or egg situation'. I am certain I invented the Menoptera from the phrase 'half man, half butterfly' in that phone call with nothing else to go on. I never did see the creature later as I didn�t have a television. They were all kept vague and small in the artwork without much definition because of lack of info about their looks or function. I've never heard the other names [of the Zarbi and the Voord].�
This would be in early 1964, and I spent the next few lunch times looking for pictures of a police box in the back street book shops of the city of Manchester, before putting together a largely guesswork annual cover artwork �

Excerpt From: Paul Magrs. �The Annual Years.� iBooks.

Not sure much of that rings true. Personally it seems to have lots of the trade mark Walt Howarth elements and Stanley Freeman's other work doesn't have any of the polish but Who knows?!

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About the Owner

	Matt Carter
Joined:	September 2009
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	https://mattcarterfilms.com/
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
On CAF:	Matt's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Allan Burne
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 6/9/2017

This is fantastic! Are you aware of the claim that this artwork was actually by Stanley Freeman rather than Walt Howarth? I read about it in the Blimey! comics blog. I've not read it, but Paul Magrs' book The Annual Years has an interview with Stanley Freeman about producing this art.

Matt Carter
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 6/26/2017

Allan Burne wrote:

Had no idea! Always assumed it was Walt all the way. The pyramid TARDIS almost became like a trade mark for a while. It does seem to have all his hallmarks but interesting if true. Still a great piece whoever the artist was.

Allan Burne
Member Since 2006

Posted on 6/9/2017

Matt Carter
Member Since 2009

Posted on 6/28/2017

Allan Burne wrote:

Downloaded the Paul Magrs book. Not much in it really. Got to say it doesn't quite add up... I've added some chunks of the interview to my page. He didn't know what the monsters looked like, he had to source a picture of a Police Box from a book shop (Surely they we're knocking around in Manchester?) he obviously didn't find a picture hence the pyramid roof!. He made up the Menoptera from the description of half man / half butterfly? And wasn't even given a picture of Hartnell? All seems a bit sketchy to me. Also looked at the 2 covers he claims he DID do and they don't seem to share much stylistic similarity with the picture on the cover? And are pretty badly painted. Jury's still out for me. Feels more Walt than Stanley.

Terry Doyle
Member Since 2004

Posted on 7/14/2017

Great find, I got the annual as a Christmas present when I was a kid!

Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006

Posted on 5/13/2024

Amazing. Keep it safe.

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