# Ray Mutimer

Ray Mutimer is a British illustrator.
Ray Ivan Gerald Mutimer was born in 1937. His parents, Olive and Aubrey, and an older sister, Janet, lived in the village of Gorefield, near Wisbech "Capital of the Fens" of East Anglia. He was educated at Gorefield village school and passed his 11+ to Wisbech Boys Grammar School. His artistic skills and enthusiasm were encouraged, not by the school, but by Bill Wright, who had a signwriting business, and an Art Materials and Photography shop in Wisbech. Ray was proficient in drawing, watercolour and oil painting at the age of 15. Thanks to Bill Wright who was his mentor at that time. Unaware of such a thing as an Art School, Ray applied for a 2 Year Teacher Training Course at Trent Park Teacher Training College, Barnet. The college specialised in Music, Art and Drama.
He first had to do his National Service with the Suffolk Regiment from 1955 to 1975. He joined the Intelligence Section, served in Germany and on active service in Cyprus. Reached the rank of Corporal - unusual for national service personnel.

## Early career

At college he met his future wife, Christine Spence. He moved to Yorkshire, her home county. After gaining experience in a Leeds school and Christchurch Boys School Harrogate, he eventually became Head of Art and Craft at St Aidan's C.E. High School in Harrogate. Whilst teaching, he continued his own personal paintings and exhibited widely in the North of England during the sixties and seventies. He had two paintings in the Contemporary British Watercolours Exhibition at the Royal Watercolour Society Galleries. He went on to have thirty one-man shows. He was also selected for many annual regional group exhibitions such as the West Riding Artists' Exhibition (Wakefield), Modern Art in Yorkshire (9 artists) and Yorkshire Artists exhibitions.
His first illustrations were cartoon drawings, about teaching, which were regularly published in the Times Educational Supplement and Teacher's World.
He became interested in children's book illustration, and after overcoming a series of rejections, Yorkshire Television used his artwork in the national T.V. school and pre-school programmes My World and Stepping Stones. His illustrations for traditional and new stories, including some of his own, were shown on the programmes for four years.

## Illustration

In 1980, he became a freelance illustrator.
Working with Michael Benn Publishing, Ray originated and published educational material for industry. One of its successes was time charts which took the form of a 4-part frieze showing the history of an industry or institution. Each had about 50 pictures blended into a montage. Ray illustrated history Time Charts for The Inland Revenue, The Banking Information Service, The Royal Mint, Pilkington Glass (history of windows), Thames Water and The Atomic Energy Authority. He also designed and illustrated fourteen A1 and A2 posters for similar institutions, including The Royal Society of Arts.

## Books

Postman Pat is a TV character created by Ivor Wood and writer John Cunliffe. In 1989 Ray started his first series of 12 Postman Pat picture books called "Tales from Greendale", published by Andre Deutsch Children's Books and Scholastic. These were followed by four books based on new TV episodes. He also did associated activity and sticker books.
For Egmont Publishing he did a number of Postman Pat board books for younger children drawn in a simple heavy black line style and computer coloured. Ray drew eight Postman Pat Annuals from 1993 to 2000.
Between 1997 and 2005, Ray worked on educational books for Africa and the Caribbean for Macmillan Education. Covering an enormous range of subjects in 24 books. Some were illustrations for a traditional African story, some were factual, some descriptive, religious, decorative, some picture stories, some comic, some pure adventure.
He brought his individual slant to classic rhymes and fairy stories in The Award book of Tales and Rhymes, published by Award Publications in 1999.

## Magazines and comics

From 1982 to 1988, Mutimer wrote, designed and illustrated pages of craft "how to make" activities for children. These appeared in various comics, mostly for girls. The longest running was "Make with Mum" in Pepper Street, published by DC Thomson.
For four years, he drew another TV character created by Ivor Wood, Charlie Chalk. He drew 2 or 3 pictures strips and the occasional activity page each week in the Postman Pat Weekly Children's magazine published by Fleetway. Towards the end of the comic's life he also drew Postman Pat on the covers and inside. He gave the fortnightly "Play and Learn Postman Pat" spin off striking fully painted covers as well as interior picture strips.
Working for Marvel UK from 1992 to 1994, on Rupert and friends and Rupert Learn and Play – weekly children's picture strip magazines, Ray illustrated four page picture stories and activity pages called Bingo's Workshop.
Ray also contributed to various BBC Publications Children's magazines.

## Children's Magazines in which work regularly appeared

| Title | Dates |
| DC Thomson ||
| Pepper Street | 1984 – 1987 |
| Fleetway Publications ||
| Postman Pat weekly | 1990 – 1994 |
| Postman Pat learn and Play | |
| Marvel UK ||
| Rupert and friends | 1992 – 1994 |
| Rupert learn and Play | |
| BBC Children's magazines ||
| Toybox | 1997 – 2003 |
| Toybox Teach Me | 2001 – 2003 |
| Noddy | 1994 – 1999 |
| Starhill Ponies | 1999 – 2000 |

## Later exhibitions

August 2004. "Original Postman Pat illustrations." Newby Hall, Ripon. 65 pictures.
May 2005. Heild Gallery, Bishop Monkton.
August 2005. "Original Postman Pat illustrations." Newby Hall, Ripon. 63 pictures.
August 2006. "Original Postman Pat illustrations." Newby Hall, Ripon. 62 pictures.
September 2006. “Great North Art Show.” (Group Show.) Ripon Cathedral, Ripon. 4 paintings.
August 2007. "Original Postman Pat illustrations." Newby Hall, Ripon. 71 pictures.
September 2007. “Great North Art Show.” (Group Show.) Ripon Cathedral, Ripon. 4 paintings.
December 2007. “Postman Pat illustrations.” Preston Hall Museum, Stockton-on-Tees. (Raising funds for the Butterwick Hospice Extension Appeal.)
August 2008. "Original Postman Pat illustrations." Newby Hall, Ripon. 65 pictures.
September 2008. “Great North Art Show.” (Group Show.) Ripon Cathedral, Ripon. 4 paintings.
September 2009. “Great North Art Show.” (Group Show.) Ripon Cathedral, Ripon. 4 paintings.
August 2011. The March Hare Gallery, Ripon.
December 2011. “A Little Imagination.” Art in the Mill, Knaresborough.
July & August 2012. “Postman Pat and others” Nunnington Hall, York.
July, August & September 2013. Assorted illustrations at Beningbrough Hall. Yorkshire.
March 2015. Tennant's Garden gallery, Harrogate.
April 2015. St Michaels Hospice, Harrogate. (Solo fund raising show.)
June 2015. Mercer Gallery, Harrogate. 1 painting, 1 drawing.
April, May & June 2016. Preston Hall Museum, Stockton-on-Tees. 28 paintings and 28 illustrations.

## Bibliography (partial)

| Title | Author | Artist | Publisher | Date | ISBN |
| The Eye of Elba | Charles Jackson | Ray Mutimer | Aberlard-Schuman | 1976 | 0200723634 |
| The Secret of Kellerman's Studio | Ken Follett | Ray Mutimer | Aberlard-Schuman | 1976 | 0200723022 |
| Roger Moore and the Crimefighters series ||||||
| The Anchor Trick | Anthony Wall | Ray Mutimer | Everest Books | 1977 | 0905018680 |
| Death in Demins | Dulcie Gray | Ray Mutimer | Everest Books | 1977 | 0905018702 |
| Crook Ahoy | Fielden Hughes | Ray Mutimer | Everest Books | 1977 | 0905018397 |
| 1001 Shoplifters | Robin Smyth | Ray Mutimer | Everest Books | 1977 | 0905018370 |
| The Siege | Malcolm Hulke | Ray Mutimer | Everest Books | 1977 | 0905018001 |
| The Secrets Man | Deben Holt | Ray Mutimer | Everest Books | 1977 | 0905018664 |
| Roundabouts series ||||||
| The Giant's Socks | Ben Butterworth | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1978 | 0560015240 |
| The Witch and the Broomstick | Ben Butterworth | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1978 | 0560015275 |
| The Princess and the Dragon | Ben Butterworth | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1978 | 0560015267 |
| The Princess Who Could Not Cry | Ben Butterworth | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1978 | 0560015259 |
| Beware of the Man with No Name | Jim Rogerson | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1979 | 0560015534 |
| Mountain Fever | Jim Rogerson | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1979 | 0560015542 |
| The Sands of the Marjee | Jim Rogerson | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1979 | 0560015550 |
| It is Always Dark for a Blind Man | Jim Rogerson | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1979 | 0560015526 |
| Tim and the Hidden People series ||||||
| News from the North | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1980 | 0560013892 |
| The Cry in the Dark | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1980 | 0560013906 |
| The Shield Stone | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1980 | 0560013914 |
| The Storm over the Sea | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1980 | 0560013922 |
| The Cave of the Wind Witches | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1980 | 0560013930 |
| In Diaman's Cave | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1980 | 0560013949 |
| Danger on the Moor | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1980 | 0560013957 |
| At the Hill of the Stone Prisons | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | E J Arnold & Son | 1980 | 0560013965 |
| Burglars in the Yard | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | Arnold-Wheaton | 1983 | 0560014007 |
| The Wild Witches and the Talisman | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | Arnold-Wheaton | 1983 | 056001399X |
| Magic in the North | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | Arnold-Wheaton | 1983 | 0560014015 |
| Tim and the People of the Moonlight | Sheila K McCullagh | Ray Mutimer | Arnold-Wheaton | 1983 | 0560013981 |
| The Relay Readers series ||||||
| A mad Scramble! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| What a Catch! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Pot Shots | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Lost and Found | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| One Good Turn... | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| The Final Score | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| No Hiding Place | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| A Near Thing! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| The Bullfighter | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| No Contest! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| A Bad Break | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Canal junk | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Strange Meeting | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Pit Stop! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Not a Leg to Stand On! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Race Against the Tide | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Bringing the House Down! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| A Fair Cop! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Christmas Shopping | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Gone Fishing! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Home and Away | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Witch Hunt! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| A fighting Chance! | Barrie Johnson | Ray Mutimer | Schofield & Sims | 1982 | (ISBN allocated to a set of Six books) |
| Postman Pat - Tales From Greendale series ||||||
| Pat and the Puzzle Parcels | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1990 | 0233984178 |
| Granny Dryden's Runaway Pig | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1990 | 0233984186 |
| Ted Glen's New Year Promises | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1990 | 0233986294 |
| Julian and the Vacuum Cleaner | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1991 | 0233985905 |
| Miss Hubbard's New Hat | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1991 | 0233986510 |
| Postman Pat's Wild Cat Chase | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1992 | 023365432X |
| Reverend Timms Gives a Film Show | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1993 | 0590540912 |
| Postman Pat and the Flood | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1994 | 0590541250 |
| Postman Pat series ||||||
| Postman Pat and the Toy Soldiers | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1991 | 0590550543 |
| Postman Pat Takes the Bus | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1992 | 0590540416 |
| Postman pat and the Barometer | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1994 | 0590541749 |
| Postman Pat and the Tuba | John Cunliffe | Ray Mutimer | Andre Deutsch / Scholastic | 1994 | 0590541641 |
| Annuals ||||||
| Postman Pat Annual 1993 | John Escott | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1992 | 0749809108 |
| Postman Pat Annual 1994 | John Escott | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1993 | 0749813512 |
| Postman Pat Annual 1995 | John Escott | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1994 | 0749819952 |
| Postman Pat Annual 1996 | Brenda Apsley | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1995 | 0749823143 |
| Postman Pat Annual 1997 | Brenda Apsley | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1996 | 0749828005 |
| Postman Pat Annual 1998 | Brenda Apsley | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1997 | 074983384X |
| Postman Pat Annual 1999 | Brenda Apsley | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1998 | 0749837705 |
| Postman Pat Annual 2000 | Brenda Apsley | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1999 | 0749842881 |
| Charlie Chalk Annual 1992 | Geoffrey Cowan | Ray Mutimer & Christine Mutimer | World international | 1991 | 0749802715 |